5 key details about Tommy Lee Kellum's murder

The tragic case of Tommy Lee Kellum, a 76-year-old man murdered in June 2009, shocked the whole nation because of its circumstances and the subsequent court drama. Three years later, in July 2012, his ex-wife, Brenda Watson, was found guilty of committing second-degree murder in connection with his death.

The case is being explored in Snapped season 35 episode 1. The synopsis of the episode reads:

When a beloved grandfather is found shot dead in his Florida home, detectives fear his missing ex-wife is also in danger; as they uncover a tangled web of romance, infidelity and betrayal, new questions arise about her involvement in the murder.

The episode is set to air on Oxygen on January 5, 2025.

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Five key facts about Tommy Lee Kellum's murder

1) The murder incident

Representative crime scene (Image via cottonbro studio /pexels)

On June 23, 2009, Tommy Lee Kellum was found dead in his house on Washington Street in Lake City, Florida, as per the Lake City Reporter's article dated July 18, 2012. Brenda Watson shot him five times after a confrontation that escalated when Kellum turned off the electricity in their home upon the former's return from an outing.

In response to the fight, Watson armed herself with a.22-caliber rifle from a gun rack and shot Kellum as he came out of the bathroom. During the conviction verdict, prosecutor Roberta Getzan described Watson's actions as shooting "until the gun would shoot no more," emphasizing the severity of the crime, as per the Lake City Reporter.

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2) Legal proceedings and charges

Brenda Watson was indicted on first-degree murder and two counts of grand theft for stealing Kellum's truck and using his bank card after his death, according to the same report. She chose a non-jury trial under Circuit Judge David Fina.

On July 17, 2012, Watson was convicted of second-degree murder but acquitted of the grand theft charges. The court ruled her guilty on the charge of discharge of a firearm causing death; the minimum time in prison was 25 years.

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3) Relationship dynamics

Representative image of investigation (Image via pexels)

Kellum and Watson's relationship was not simple. They used to be each other's spouses and were separated at the moment of the killing, but remained living together.

During the trial, defense attorney Blair Payne contended that Tommy Lee Kellum was physically abusive towards Watson and characterized him as a "bully" who constantly subjected her to anger and intimidation, as per the Lake City Reporter. This characterization would have explained Watson's actions as reactions to continuous abuse rather than murder.

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4) Watson's arrest and confession

Representative crime scene (Image via cottonbro studio/pexels )

After the murder, Brenda Watson ran away from the crime scene in Kellum's truck, according to a report by New Times Broward-Palm Beach dated June 26, 2009. The police suspected that she was going to run away to Canada. Within a week of the murder, on June 26, 2009, she was arrested in Erie, Pennsylvania, due to a probation violation warrant issued in Columbia County.

While being arrested, she confessed to killing Tommy Lee Kellum and gave the police some important information regarding the events before his death.

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5) Family reactions and impact

The family of Tommy Lee Kellum showed mixed feelings regarding the verdict. According to the Lake City Reporter, his daughter, Cassandra Kellum, said that although she was pleased with the conviction, it did not bring closure to her family.

She indicated that only at the time of sentencing would there be true closure. The family felt that Watson could have ended the relationship much earlier than when it became violent, which left them in a state of continuous pain from losing Kellum in such a tragic way.

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For more details on the case of the murder of Tommy Lee Kellum, watch the latest episode of Snapped season 5 on Oxygen on January 5, 2025.