Los Angeles police arrested two suspects on murder charges in connection with the death of Christina Downer, sister of Saturday Night Live writer Jimmy Fowlie, nearly a year after she vanished from her home in December 2025.
Arrests Follow Year-Long Investigation
Authorities identified the suspects as Delorean Bijon Brandon, Downer’s boyfriend, and Kaylee Nicole Markowski. Police took Brandon into custody Friday in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, while officers arrested Markowski in Tarzana. Both suspects face murder charges and are held on $2 million bail each. The Los Angeles Police Department stated that detectives believe the pair murdered the 38-year-old woman, then disposed of her body and attempted to conceal the crime.
Downer’s ex-husband reported her missing in December 2025 after requesting a welfare check at her residence. Family members had last contacted her in late November of that year. Brandon initially told investigators that Downer had moved out of their shared home, claiming she abandoned all her possessions, including her vehicle and pet dog.
Investigation Turned on Key Evidence
The case shifted from a missing persons investigation to a homicide probe when Downer’s cellphone washed ashore at Santa Monica Beach. This discovery prompted detectives to scrutinize Brandon’s account more carefully and pursue criminal charges. Earlier in October, authorities conducted an extensive search of an Airbnb property in Joshua Tree with assistance from K-9 units and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Police declined to confirm whether they were searching for human remains, stating only that investigators sought evidence related to Downer’s disappearance.
Family Mourns and Seeks Justice
In April, Fowlie publicly acknowledged on social media that his sister was no longer alive. He wrote that his family’s hopes for her safe return had transformed into prayers for truth and accountability. Fowlie revealed that evidence suggested someone had compromised Downer’s phone and social media accounts in the weeks before her disappearance. The individual or individuals who possessed her phone used it to request money from contacts and create a false story that she was intentionally going off the grid. The family now awaits trial proceedings as prosecutors build their case against the two suspects charged in this tragic death.