What happened to Kenneth Michael Brett?

Investigation Discovery’s “Fear Thy Neighbor: Get off My Property” takes a deep dive into the unfortunate murder of 22-year-old Joseph Booker in the summer of 2016. When police began investigating, they learned of of a neighborhood quarrel which could be the reason. for the premature death of the victim. Thanks to in-depth interviews with Joseph’s loved ones, the episode traces the case in detail as well as the investigation that followed.

Dispute over loud music turned fatal for Joseph Booker

Born September 11, 1993 in Michigan, Joseph Richard Booker grew up with his beloved sister, Shirley Robinson. At the time of his murder, he was living with Amber and Kim Perryman, their two daughters, and Amber’s mother, Tammy Perryman. Joseph was known to be an empathetic and compassionate soul who kept his needs aside in order to help someone else in need. He was also apparently close to his aunt, Lynn Nagengast.

When he moved into a new residence on the 3300 block of Starkweather Street in Flint, Michigan, with the Perryman family, things were going well for them. Little did they know that the quiet, peaceful neighborhood would turn into a battleground between the Perrymans and the neighbors – Kenneth and Christina Brett – who lived right across the street with their daughters, Paige and Cici. What sparked the rivalry between the two families was the loud music played by the new family during gatherings and parties with their loved ones. The simple disagreement over noise escalated into something more serious, which resulted in Joseph’s murder.

When the argument between the two neighbors reached a boiling point, a fight broke out between them in the street on May 30, 2016. During the fight and commotion, Kenneth Brett picked up a baseball bat and hit Joseph Booker in the head with it, leaving him unconscious on the ground. Nearby neighbors heard the sounds of the fight and called the police. When authorities arrived on the scene and stopped the fight, they found Joseph bleeding and unconscious. He was immediately rushed to Hurley Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition as he had suffered severe head and brain trauma. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries a few days later, on June 3, 2016.

Kenneth Michael Brett was put on trial for killing his neighbor

It didn’t take long for detectives to connect the dots and arrest Kenneth Michael Brett, 45, for assaulting Joseph Booker. However, after the 22-year-old died in hospital, the assault charge against Kenneth was dismissed as he was later charged with homicide. On June 7, 2016, he was officially indicted. Less than a year later, around March 2017, the defendant’s trial began. He pleaded no contest to an amended charge of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to five years in prison for his crimes.

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