Brandi Reynolds, a 35-year-old U.S. Postal Service rural letter carrier and mother of two from Wilkes County, North Carolina, was kidnapped and murdered while delivering mail on June 26, 2026, in Hays. She was found shot dead after a witness reported an armed man in a gray Nissan Altima threatening her.

William Craig Durham, 56, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. Authorities say Reynolds was restrained and removed from her vehicle before being killed. Durham has a lengthy criminal history including prior kidnapping and assault convictions. A family member claimed he had previously threatened and broken into her home.

The killing came just six months after Reynolds’ husband, Brent Reynolds, 35, died in a single-car crash on December 23, 2025. He was not wearing a seatbelt when his truck veered off the road and struck a tree.

Court records show both Brandi and Brent were convicted drug dealers. In 2022, they were arrested for running drugs—including marijuana and fentanyl—from their rural home. Brandi was sentenced to 30 months of supervised probation in 2023; Brent received 36 months and was still on probation when he died.

The couple’s two young daughters are now orphaned. Reynolds was remembered by neighbors as a friendly, reliable mail carrier. The case is being investigated by state and federal authorities.