Brandi Reynolds, 35, was found dead at about 4:16 p.m. on Friday, June 26, the US Postal Inspection Service said in a news release. Her body was discovered in Hays, North Carolina, about 90 minutes west of Greensboro.
William Durham, 56, was arrested in connection with Reynolds' death. He was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, NBC News reported.
Durham was accused of unlawfully restraining Reynolds "for the purpose of terrorizing" her and "doing serious bodily injury" to her, according to court documents. Investigators have not released details about how Reynolds was killed or disclosed a possible motive.
A judge ordered Durham held without bond, citing his "significant criminal record." State prison records show he previously served time for several offenses, including second-degree kidnapping, assault on a female, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Reynolds was the mother of two daughters, who were described as "her whole world" in her obituary.
"The US Postal Service is deeply saddened about the death of our colleague, Brandi Byrd Reynolds," a USPS spokesperson told NBC News. "We extend our heartfelt sympathies to her family, friends, and co-workers at the Hays Post Office."
Brent Reynolds, Brandi's husband, died in a crash on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, according to WXII-TV in Winston-Salem. The 35-year-old's pickup veered off a road in Ronda, North Carolina, and struck a tree.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted jointly by the US Postal Inspection Service, the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
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