Rajai Keyontae Brown, 44, was arrested on February 11, 2026, and charged with two counts of open murder in the slayings of Tarra Mayes and Alfred Simpson, whose bodies were found on August 22, 2023, in an exterior shed at a home in Kalamazoo, Michigan’s 900 block of North Rose Street. The new homeowner discovered the highly decomposed remains during renovations, with evidence indicating they had been dead for over a year.
Investigation Details
Mayes and Simpson, who were in a romantic relationship and had lived in the home with Brown, were last active on March 13, 2022, per witness reports and cellphone data placing Brown’s phone at the location until March 14. A witness claimed Brown confessed in 2022 to stabbing Mayes after she attacked him with a knife, then killing Simpson when he intervened.
Arrest and Court Status
Charges were authorized on February 6, 2026, after a multi-year probe by Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety detectives. Brown was arraigned before Judge Tiffany A. Ankley, who denied bond; his preliminary exam is set for March 4, 2026. Capt. Danielle Guilds praised the team’s dedication to the victims’ families.
