inmate271

Angola inmate (Louisiana State Penitentiary) being transferred to court.

Post 0273

Bryan MacKenzie Redden, New York inmate 18A1016, born 1996, incarceration intake March 2018 at age 21, earliest release date August 2061

Murder 1st degree, Murder 2nd degree, Grand Larceny

Broke into a home and killed a young mother and her 4-year old daughter. Redden pleaded guilty.  Redden also admitted he stole electronics from the victims’ home. He spoke little during the proceeding, beyond telling Warren County Judge John Hall he understood the charges and saying an occasional “yes” or “guilty” as the judge read off the charges.

He spoke in court telling the judge he was sorry and was asking for forgiveness. 

Lana VanGundy, 23, a friend of Redden’s, said after court that he and the woman were not publicly dating but had an intimate relationship. She said she believed he had not gone there that day to commit the crimes but the couple had gotten into an argument and Redden killed her.

VanGundy claimed Redden was on heroin — and possibly cocaine — when he committed the killings and has no memory of the crimes. She said he pleaded guilty because he knew what he did was wrong and would have wanted justice if his family was killed.

Redden was born in West Virginia and came to the area several years before with a traveling carnival, according to VanGundy.

“He was friendly, we were really good friends,” she said. “What happened was a tragedy and it should not have happened but he did not go there with the intent to cause her harm. This is a very big shock of everyone.”

His sentence was upheld on appeal.

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