Stockton man convicted of brutal murder of girlfriend

A man accused of fatally strangling and stabbing his girlfriend in her Stockton home has been convicted of murdering her, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office said. On October 1, 2021, family members who had not heard from Brandi Hornsby went to the home in the 3900 block of East Fremont Street to check on her. The prosecutor’s office said Hornsby’s mother, Tonya, received no response so she broke a window to get inside. Once inside, she met Hornsby’s partner Deangelo Webb, who allowed her entry. But while Tonya searched for Hornsby, officers said Webb attacked her, choked her unconscious, dragged her into the garage and stabbed her multiple times in the neck with a knife. Then Hornsby’s brother broke into the front door. Webb stole Tonya’s vehicle and fled the apartment with his and Hornsby’s 6-week-old baby, the DA’s office said. Investigators then found a suitcase in the kitchen that contained Brandi Hornsby’s body. The prosecutor’s office said Hornsby had been strangled and stabbed more than 30 times three days earlier and that Webb had planned to bury her body. Webb was at large for five days after the attack and was eventually arrested in an hours-long standoff in the Bay Area. There was also an Amber Alert for the baby, but she was found unharmed dropped off at a family’s home. Webb was also convicted of child endangerment. At Webb’s first court hearing, Hornsby’s family members said Tonya was “slowly recovering with lots of family, friends, community support and resources.” Webb was also previously charged with robbery and domestic violence in Fresno County. “This case is a frightening reminder of the evil some are capable of, but it is also a testament to the courage of Brandi’s family and the determined pursuit of justice by law enforcement and prosecutors,” District Attorney Ron Freitas said in a news release. Webb has not yet been sentenced. For more coverage of top California stories, click here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter