Baby in the River Murder Trial: David Gelman Joins CourtTV to Discuss Case
Criminal defense attorney and legal analyst, David Gelman recently joined CourtTV to discuss the case of TN v. Isabelle, which has been referred to in the media as the Baby in the River Murder trial.
The suspect in this case, Brandon Isabelle, confessed to shooting his girlfriend and then tossing their two day old baby in the Mississippi River in February 2022. The case has sparked nationwide attention, as well as scrutiny, as many people are questioning why the case has gone to trial when Isabelle already confessed to murder. Mr. Gelman joined CourtTV host Julie Grant to discuss this controversial case, including why the prosecution has not yet sought the death penalty.
Background on Baby in the River Case
An investigation into an abandoned vehicle in early February 2022 led to the grisly discovery of Danielle Hoyle’s body. Hoyle, whose body was found near her abandoned vehicle with a gunshot wound to her head, was allegedly meeting with Brandon Isabelle, the father of her two-day old daughter, Kennedy.
According to testimony from the investigators, Isabelle did not want Kennedy in his life and confessed to luring Danielle to an intersection, shooting her in the head and then tossing their newborn into the Mississippi River. After the alleged murders, Isabelle then disposed of Kennedy’s car seat at a nearby Walmart dumpster and went inside to buy gifts for his other girlfriend. Tragically, Kennedy’s body has not been found.
At this time, Isabelle is facing two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated child abuse.
Baby in the River Case Eerily Similar to the Pregnant Mistress Murder Trial
The trial against Isabelle is eerily similar to the FL v. Soto-Escalera case, which is currently in its penalty phase. In what the media has dubbed, the Pregnant Mistress Murder trial, Jose Antonio Soto-Escalera is accused of killing his 23-year old girlfriend, Tania Wise in 2018.
Wise, who was eight and a half months pregnant at the time of her murder, was described as a loving, devoted and playful mom to her then young son. Soto-Escalera was married and already a father to four children when Wise got pregnant. According to investigators, Wise asked Soto-Escalera for money for an abortion. Solo-Escalera was reportedly angry upon learning of Wise’s decision to keep the baby. Her body was found in a drainage ditch in August 2018 and Solo-Escalera was arrested a month later. In October 2025, he was found guilty of first-degree murder of both Tania and their unborn child, a son she was going to name Josiah. The jury, in a 8-4 vote, decided that he should face the death penalty.
Although the details in both cases are very similar, prosecutors haven’t sought the death penalty against Isabelle like they did against Solo-Escalera. When asked if this is because there is no body, David Gelman considered it a possibility but demonstrated some skepticism. “I know the body was never recovered,” he told Grant. “But you have a confession and that is critical.”
Isabelle alleges that the police coerced him into giving a confession. However, testimony has painted a different picture. “So far, the testimony you’re hearing shows there’s a motive. He didn’t want this baby,” Gelman explained. “When you have a confession like that, there’s no way it’s not coming in and the jury hears it and doesn’t say, ‘Alright, guilty.” Furthermore, according to Gelman, the pretrial and suppression motions to get the confession out didn’t work. “He [Isabelle] is going to look like the worst guy in the world and frankly, by the allegations, he might be.”
The prosecution asked the jury to sentence Isabelle to life in prison without the possibility of parole, however, the jury recommended life in prison with the possibility of parole after 51 years for the murders of both Danielle and Kennedy Hoyle. If convicted and paroled, Isabelle would be in his late 70s.
David Gelman: A Highly-Sought After Legal Analyst for the Nation’s Biggest Cases
Because he was a prosecutor, David Gelman offers unique insight into what the prosecution’s next move will be. Regularly sought after by the media for his legal insight, David Gelman has weighed in on some of the biggest cases across the nation, including P. Diddy, Bryan Kohberger, and Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson.
To schedule a media appearance with David Gelman, please contact samantha@esquiredigital.com
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.
