HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A man was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of killing his then-girlfriend's teenage daughter while he was trying to rape her, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
A Harris County jury convicted Van Henry Brisbon of capital murder for killing the 16-year-old girl in their home in Humble on April 29, 2022.
KHOU 11 first covered this story when it happened.
"She just wanted to get away, that's all she wanted," Keryca Harmon, the victim's sister, said at the time. "She just said he was being really weird and wanted me to pick her up."
The girl, Lauren Juma, was a Nimitz High School student. The DA's Office said she was home alone with Brisbon when she video called her mom, Laurie Young, to say he was being "weird." Young was out of town at the time and sent her older daughter to pick up the teen. When the older daughter got to the home, Brisbon was holding Juma at gunpoint.
Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff's Office were called to the scene and when they arrived, they heard gunshots coming from inside the home. Brisbon came outside and was taken into custody. At the time, deputies said Brisbon told them, "Do what you have to do," when he came out of the home.
Juma's body was found in the home and investigators discovered evidence that he tried to rape the girl.
"The defendant was a predator with a gun, and his choice to hurt a young girl was senseless and horrific," DA Kim Ogg said.
Brisbon is not eligible for parole or release from prison.
The jury in this case heard testimony and saw evidence over a nine day trial before convicting Brisbon of capital murder.
"Our jury heard bodycam recordings of the victim's screams, cries for help and then gunshots, which were not easy to listen to," said Assistant DA Katie Warren.
Young said at the time that she didn't understand why it happened. She'd been in a relationship with Brisbon for five years.
"He treated Lauren like she was his baby," she said. "I don't understand. He can rot in jail. He had no reason to take my baby's life."