Man Charged with Kidnapping and Murder of North Carolina Mail Carrier

William Craig Durham, 56, has been charged with first-degree kidnapping and murder in the death of 35-year-old Brandi Reynolds, a U.S. Postal Service worker. Authorities reported that Reynolds was found dead in Hays, North Carolina, following a call for help on Friday afternoon. U.S. Postal Inspector Michael Martel confirmed that Reynolds was delivering mail at the time of the incident.

Durham, a resident of Roaring River, was arrested on the same day as the murder and is currently being held at Wilkes County Jail without bond, as ordered by District Court Judge Robert J. Crumpton. The judge cited Durham's significant criminal history, which includes prior convictions for second-degree kidnapping and assault.

A warrant filed in district court alleges that Durham unlawfully restrained Reynolds and removed her from one location to another without her consent, intending to terrorize her and cause serious bodily injury. Details regarding the circumstances of her death and any weapons involved have not been disclosed.

The investigation into the case is being conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Reynolds is survived by her two daughters, who recently lost their father in a separate incident.