Brandon Herring

Brandon Herring was a young man from Raytown, Missouri, whose life centered on family and the close everyday hopes many people share. Born April 17, 1995, Brandon graduated from the local community and remained close to his family in Raytown. In late 2016 he and his loved ones were preparing to welcome his son, and he had filled a room in his mother’s house with supplies for the baby — a quiet detail that speaks to the care he intended to give as a father.

Friends and neighbors remember Brandon as part of the Raytown community. He graduated from Raytown South High School in 2013 and had been involved in local activities; accounts from community remembrances note he played football in school and kept close ties with family. Those who knew him recall his excitement about becoming a father and the plans he made for his child, who was born while Brandon was missing.

Brandon’s disappearance in late November 2016 left his family searching and hoping for answers. In January 2017 his remains were found near Swope Park in Kansas City; investigators later ruled his death a homicide. While the circumstances of his death remain a matter of public record, the most important memories from those who loved him are of a young man preparing for fatherhood and of the ordinary, human things — laughter, family dinners, and the small acts of care that defined his relationships.

Though a full public obituary matching official death notices was not located, Brandon’s family and community have continued to speak about him with tenderness. His mother has been an active advocate for information and for keeping his memory alive. Local organizations and publications that honor victims of violence have featured Brandon’s story to ensure he is remembered as a person first — a son, a soon-to-be father, and a member of the Raytown community whose life mattered to those who loved him.

This remembrance honors Brandon’s plans and the small, personal details that showed his intentions for the future — most poignantly, the preparations for his son. He is remembered by family and friends for the care he showed and the place he held in their lives. If you have information that could assist investigators, local tip lines remain available to support the search for answers.