An Orange County jury handed down a 30-year prison sentence in the murder of a mother of two.
May 5, Derek Lennon Bradley, 47, was found guilty of murder in the death of Casie Lynn Graves, 38, the mother of two of Bradley’s children.
Sept. 16, 2023, an employee of International Paper discovered Graves’ body near railroad tracks. Deputies and investigators from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and began an investigation.
An autopsy revealed Graves died by strangulation.
Investigators obtained video showing Bradley’s truck leaving his residence around 12:30 a.m. on the day Graves was found. The truck was seen traveling to and from the area where Graves’ body was discovered.
Bradley later contacted a mechanic to have the GPS removed from his vehicle. Based on evidence and witness interviews, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant for Bradley’s residence and vehicle.
Assistant District Attorney Bard Anderson prosecuted the case.