A man who murdered his girlfriend in Volusia County before shooting at investigators during a foot chase in Sanford has been found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to two extra life terms in prison.
On October 15, a jury convicted Brandon P. McLean, 36, of various offenses based on evidence given during a three-day trial by Seminole County prosecutors Jacob Polk, Richard Babcock, and Paul Brill. McLean was sentenced to the following jail terms on October 20 for firing at Seminole County sheriff’s detectives in 2021:
– Attempted first-degree premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer – Life imprisonment.
– Second-degree attempted murder on a law enforcement officer – Life imprisonment.
– Aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer – 15 years.
McLean was arrested by Seminole County deputies on April 21, 2021, the day after he slashed and stabbed Amy Humphries 77 times with a box cutter in her new Volkswagen Jetta and buried her body beside a walking route in Osteen.
The DeLand man was reportedly upset because Humphries, 28, couldn’t get him a firearm.
Seminole County officers saw McLean and the victim’s Volkswagen outside a laundromat on US 17/92 in Sanford and attempted to contact the suspect. But McLean fled, then turned and shot a revolver at detectives numerous times as they pursued him. The deputies returned fire, quickly bringing McLean down in the backyard of a home.
McLean was tried and convicted for Humphries’ murder in Volusia County in 2023. He received a life sentence in state prison without the possibility of release.
In Seminole County, prosecutors argued at trial that McLean was a jail releasee reoffender, allowing him to receive the maximum jail sentence. At sentencing, Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler ordered that McLean’s life sentences for attempted murder be served consecutively, ensuring that he will not be released.
McLean represented himself in both trials.
“We don’t know the extent of the defendant’s malicious intentions, wishes or goals that day in April. But what we do know is this: Through the courageous efforts of Detective Daniel Brown, Detective Spencer Sheldon, Detective Blake Reiss, and Sgt. Kiel Bryant, those desires were extinguished, and the community was protected against any further harm at the hands of the defendant,” said Seminole County prosecutors Richard Babcock.
“These deputies didn’t run from danger, but met it head on. Seminole County is a safer place because of their actions that day.”