Suspect in slaying of Tennessee mother, newborn daughter admits to killings, police say

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The suspect in the deaths of Danielle Hoyle, 27, and her two-day-old Kennedy Hoyle turned 25 the day he allegedly shot Hoyle, took Kennedy, his daughter, and placed her small body in the Mississippi River. 

Brandon Isabelle was arrested by Memphis police Wednesday on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder, murder in perpetration of aggravated kidnapping, especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence. 

Local and state authorities, and eventually a dive team, were searching the waters around the boat ramp located at the northern tip of Mud Island in Memphis. 

Isabelle waived his rights and agreed to tell investigators what happened, according to court documents. 

He admitted, police said, to luring Hoyle to the same area where an officer on patrol Tuesday night found Hoyle's tan-colored Chevrolet Cruze parked on the side of the road with a busted-out window.

By the time the officer found Hoyle, already dead from gunshot wounds on the other side of the vehicle, other officers were already in contact with Hoyle's family. They said Hoyle, who had given birth to Kennedy as recently as the day before, had not been seen or heard from.

Isabelle admitted to shooting Hoyle, according to court documents. His next move after shooting Hoyle, he told police, was picking up his newborn daughter out of the Cruze and driving her down to the river; after he "tossed" his daughter into the Mississippi River, Isabelle also allegedly threw the gun into the river.

What we know: Father confesses to killing newborn Kennedy Hoyle, mother Danielle Hoyle

Hoyle's mother, April Campbell, stood near the search site for Kennedy Wednesday afternoon. She told reporters she had been moving back and forth from the site where her daughter was killed to Mud Island.

"You didn't have to hurt her," Campbell said, addressing who she thought may have been behind her granddaughter's disappearance. "You didn't want to take care of your child, you didn't want to be in her life, you should have left her alone."

Campbell's voice quivered when she said Kennedy could have been placed at any number of places – a fire station, a police station, anywhere but in the Mississippi River. 

"I just want to know where my grandbaby is, that's all I want," Campbell said. 

Isabelle's statements to police, and other evidence not yet known in detail, led police to issue an update around 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, declaring Kennedy was more than likely dead. The search for her remains, police said, would be ongoing. 

Micaela Watts is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal.