MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Tripp Brazeale
In November 2024, 15-year-old Tripp Brazeale was found hanging from a tree in the middle of the woods of Forrest City, Arkansas. His death was quickly ruled a suicide, but in the weeks and months that followed, details of the case began to emerge that led Tripp’s family, friends, and a private investigator to realize things might not be as clear-cut as they were led to believe.
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Tripp Brazeale
Courtesy: Brazeale Family
Tripp Brazeale
Courtesy: Brazeale Family
Tripp on a dirt bike
Courtesy: Brazeale Family
Tripp riding an ATV
Courtesy: Brazeale Family
Tripp’s ATV
Courtesy: Brazeale Family
Tripp Brazeale’s parents, Gil and Jennifer Brazeale
Courtesy: Brazeale Family
Deputy Trey Bynum
Source: Cross County Sheriff’s Office
The area along St. Francis County Road 409 where Tripp Brazeale abandoned his ATV and ran into the woods.
Courtesy: Cody Turner
Private Investigator Cody Turner
Courtesy: Cody Turner
Deputy Jason Bradshaw
Source: Facebook
The front of the police truck
Courtesy: Jennifer Brazeale
The deer stand located near the area where Tripp’s body was found.
Courtesy: Cody Turner
The cut tree branch recovered from the scene where Tripp was found in the woods near Crow Creek.
Courtesy: Cody Turner
Jennifer holding the tree branch recovered from the site where her son, Tripp, was found dead.
Courtesy: Jennifer Brazeale
Timeline:
Tripp Brazeale spends the day riding four-wheelers with his siblings before attending a birthday party and later riding with his uncle and a family friend.
12:15 a.m.
St. Francis County Deputy Trey Bynum and Sergeant David Kinney are on an unrelated call.
12:40 a.m.
Deputy Bynum begins pursuing an ATV rider on a rural road and turns his body cam on.
12:42 a.m.
The ATV crashes after going airborne over a dirt berm. The rider jumps off, hops a fence, and runs into the woods.
12:43 a.m.
Sergeant Kinney arrives at the crash scene to assist Deputy Bynum.
12:51 a.m.
Deputy Bynum turns off his body camera after inspecting the ATV.
12:59 a.m.
Dispatch receives an anonymous call claiming the ATV rider is 15-year-old Tripp Brazeale and he is behind a nearby church.
1:00 a.m.
Sergeant Kinney advises command that he’s on the way to get the trailer to tow the ATV.
1:21 a.m.
Tripp calls his parents, Jennifer and Gil Brazeale, asking for a ride after deputies seized his four-wheeler.
1:22 a.m.
Deputy Jason Bradshaw calls Gil, looking for Tripp.
1:26 a.m.
Jennifer hangs up with Tripp.
1:26 a.m.
Sergeant Kinney advises that he is en route with the trailer.
1:40 a.m.
Deputy Bynum turns his body camera back on while preparing to tow the ATV. He is now wearing latex gloves.
1:41 a.m.
Jennifer receives a lengthy text message from Tripp’s phone apologizing to his family.
1:43 a.m.
Deputy Bynum turns his camera off for the second time.
1:49 a.m.
Tripp’s parents send him a text saying, “We’re here.” They begin searching for Tripp in the woods.
3:45 a.m.
Deputy Bynum goes back out on foot to search.
2:15 a.m.
Sergeant Kinney calls Gil, asking whether he has heard from or located Tripp.
4:20 a.m.
Authorities request thermal drones from the fire department and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to assist the search.
7:20 a.m.
Tracking dogs from the East Arkansas Department of Corrections join the search.
Later that day
Search crews locate Tripp’s second boot, wallet, hoodie, and phone charger in the woods.
7:18 p.m.
Authorities suspend the search for the night because of darkness.
2:12 p.m.
Searchers discover footprints in a creek near Crow Creek.
4:05 p.m.
A Game and Fish warden follows broken branches up a ridge and finds Tripp’s body.
Newcastle Road, Forrest City, Arkansas
St. Francis County Road 409, Forrest City, Arkansas
Woods north of St. Francis County Road 409
Woods south of St. Francis County Road 409
Woods south of St. Francis County Road 409
Woods south of St. Francis County Road 409
Woods near Crow Creek, Forrest City, Arkansas
Ridge near Crow Creek, Forrest City, Arkansas
New Hebron Church, Forrest City, Arkansas
An anonymous caller reported seeing Tripp behind this church shortly after the pursuit.
Additional Info:
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If you have any information on the death of Tripp Brazeale, please email our tipline at [email protected].
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If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
- St. Francis County Sheriff’s Department. Detail Report Narrative: Case No. 24-00324. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- Call for Service Command Log. CFS #CFS2444837. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- St. Francis County Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Alvin M Bynum Personnel File. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- Forrest City Police Department. Alvin Bynum Statement of Charges. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- City of Forrest City. Alvin Bynum Notification of New Hire. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- Lee County Sheriff’s Department. Letter of Dismissal from the Lee County Sheriff’s Department June 1st 2021. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- Arkansas State Police. Case Master Report. Primary Death Investigation. No. ASP-2024-1410. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- Arkansas State Crime Laboratory. Medical Examiner Investigator’s Report #2024-021966. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- Arkansas Department of Health. Certificate of Death #2024033013. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Incident Report #24-00750-1. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- Arkansas State Police. Alvin Bynum Interview Audio. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- Arkansas State Police. David Kinney Interview Audio. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- Arkansas State Police. Preston Cox Interview Audio. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- St. Francis County Sheriff’s Department. Alvin Bynum BWC. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
- St. Francis County Sheriff’s Department. Policy and Procedures, Body-Worn Cameras. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026
- St. Francis County Sheriff’s Department. Policy and Procedures, Section 78. Police Vehicle: Pursuit Driving. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026
*Some portions of bodycam footage were cut down for time and clarity.
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