The Rocky River Murders: Who Killed Carnell Sledge and Kate Brown?
On a seemingly ordinary afternoon in June 2019, the tranquility of Cleveland Metroparks' Rocky River Reservation was shattered by a horrific discovery
On a seemingly ordinary afternoon in June 2019, the tranquility of Cleveland Metroparks' Rocky River Reservation was shattered by a horrific discovery.
Two friends, Carnell Sledge, 40, and Katherine Brown, 33, were found fatally shot on a park bench.
The 'Park Bench Murders' shocked Northeast Ohio. This double homicide has puzzled investigators for years. It remains one of the area's most confusing cold cases.
Even with a substantial reward and extensive media coverage, such as a feature on Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries, justice for Carnell and Kate remains elusive.
This blog post looks at the Carnell Sledge and Kate Brown murder case. We’ll explore who they were, what happened that day, and the current status of the investigation.
We will examine how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can aid in solving cold cases like this one. It offers hope for finding answers.
Who Were Carnell Sledge and Katherine Brown?
Carnell Sledge and Katherine Brown were more than just names in a police report; they were beloved individuals with lives full of promise. Friends and family speak of them with great love.
Their untimely deaths are a heartbreaking loss.
Carnell Sledge: Known to his friends as "Nell," Carnell Sledge was a man who gave much to his community. Jeff Schwartz, a close friend, remembers him as someone "beloved by everyone and did so much for so many."
His sudden loss left a big void for those who knew him. His family set up a "Nell's Walk for Justice" in his honor. They hope to keep his memory alive and seek answers.
Katherine Brown: Kate Brown was described as being "at the top of her game" and "enjoying life" at the time of her passing. Her father shared that she had bravely overcome personal challenges, including achieving two years of sobriety and losing over 100 pounds.
Kate often visited the Rocky River Reservation for fun and exercise. She loved the park's calm environment. Her family feels deep heartbreak. They keep fighting for justice.
They provide tips to investigators and seek help from outside experts.
What Happened on June 4, 2019, in Rocky River Reservation?
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Carnell Sledge and Kate Brown are as puzzling as they are tragic. On June 4, 2019, between 5:08 and 5:15 p.m., two friends sat on a park bench.
They were near the river, north of the Lorain Road bridge in the Rocky River Reservation.
They had arrived in separate vehicles, parking in a nearby lot around 5:04 p.m.
Authorities quickly determined both had been fatally shot.
Kate Brown died from a single gunshot wound to the head, while Carnell Sledge suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
This horrific incident occurred in broad daylight in an area that is usually bustling with activity. Despite the public nature of the crime, there were no immediate witnesses or clear leads.
Cleveland police classified it as an "isolated incident," leaving many to wonder who would commit such a brazen act and why.
The sheer audacity of the crime carried out in a public park during daylight hours only adds to the mystifying nature of this Cleveland cold case.
Key Details of the Crime Scene
Location: Rocky River Reservation, Cleveland Metroparks. Look for a park bench by the river, north of the Lorain Road bridge.
Time of Death: Approximately between 5:08 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. on June 4, 2019.
Victims: Carnell Sledge (40) and Katherine Brown (33).
Cause of Death: Gunshot wounds to the head.
Discovery: Found by kayakers in the area.
Where Does the Carnell Sledge and Kate Brown Investigation Stand Today?
The investigation into the murders of Carnell Sledge and Kate Brown has been ongoing for over five years. It remains active but frustratingly unresolved.
The Cleveland Metroparks Police Department, along with the FBI, has followed many leads. But so far, they haven't found the key breakthrough to identify and catch the suspect(s).
The Reward for Information: A Call for Tips
To get the public’s help, the FBI offered a $20,000 reward. This was for information that could lead to an arrest and conviction in the case. By 2020, this reward rose to $100,000 due to extra donations from the victims' families.
This substantial sum underscores the gravity of the crime and the desperate need for anyone with knowledge to come forward.
Tips can be submitted to the FBI Cleveland at 216-622-8842 or online at tips.fbi.gov.
Crimestoppers of Cuyahoga County also accepts anonymous tips at 216-252-7463.
The Netflix Unsolved Mysteries Effect
To spark public interest, the Carnell Sledge and Kate Brown case appeared in Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries, Volume 5. It premiered on October 1st. This global exposure brought renewed hope to the families and investigators.
Cleveland Metroparks Police Chief Kelly Stillman said the show reached a "much larger audience than we typically had."
This led to dozens of new tips, adding to the roughly 100 that had been received over the years.
This resurgence of attention, however, has not yet yielded the definitive answer.
Frustration and Continued Efforts from the Families
The families of Carnell and Kate are frustrated. They feel the investigation is slow. Sometimes, they think the police aren’t communicating well. Despite law enforcement's efforts, their concerns remain.
Kate Brown's sister, Lauren Rao The families remain a driving force in seeking justice, actively engaging with the public and even providing their own tips to detectives.
They even attempted to involve the Vidocq Society, a group of experts known for solving cold cases, but a scheduled meeting with Metroparks police was reportedly called off.
A Recent Development: The Bryan Hurt Connection?
In May 2025, a new potential lead emerged that briefly captivated attention. Cleveland Metroparks police announced they were "investigating whether Bryan Hurt has any potential connection" to the 2019 double homicide.
This happened after Hurt, 66, allegedly shot and killed Thomas Overall in Kamm's Corners, Cleveland. Hurt then died by suicide.
Notably, Hurt's body was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a vehicle at the Rocky River Reservation's Groth Memorial & Scenic Overlook, less than two miles north of where Sledge and Brown were murdered.
The closeness is eye-catching, but Kate Brown's and Carnell Sledge's families have issued a statement. They warn that no proof has been found that ties Hurt to their loved ones' murders.
Cleveland Metroparks Police Chief Kelly Stillman said they are "still working on if he had an involvement or if he didn't."
He added that they are "taking a closer look" due to the nearby location. As of late June 2025, this remains an avenue of investigation, but it has not yet led to a confirmed breakthrough.
How Can Artificial Intelligence Help Solve Cold Cases Like This?
The Carnell Sledge and Kate Brown murder case faces common cold case issues. There are few new leads. There’s also a lot of unorganized data. Time has faded memories and evidence.
This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds immense promise. AI isn't a magic bullet, but it's a powerful new tool in the investigator's kit, capable of analyzing vast datasets and identifying patterns that human eyes might miss.
Unlocking Hidden Clues from Mountains of Data
Think of years of police reports, witness statements, anonymous tips, and forensic data. It's a vast accumulation of information, often scattered across different formats and locations. For human detectives, sifting through all this can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
This is where AI-Powered Document Parsing comes in. AI can automatically scan and analyze countless case files, PDFs, scanned reports, images, and more.
It can quickly reveal hidden leads, contradictions in statements, or behavior patterns. These may connect events or people that seem unrelated. This drastically cuts down on manual review time, letting investigators focus on actionable insights.
Seeing Beyond the Surface: Visual Evidence Analysis
Crime scenes and evidence often include many visual documents. These can be photographs or handwritten notes. Vision AI for Visual Evidence leverages advanced AI to understand these visual documents.
It can pull text from scanned notes. It spots objects or details in crime scene photos that people might miss. It also analyzes visual links between different pieces of evidence.
This means that important clues hidden in imagery or hard-to-read handwritten reports can be brought to light in real-time.
Gaining New Perspectives with Tailored AI Insights
Investigations are complex, requiring different ways of thinking. AI offers Tailored AI Personas. This lets investigators switch roles easily, such as investigator, legal analyst, or profiler.
Each persona gives answers and ideas based on its specific role. This helps detectives look at the case in different ways. They can discover theories they might not have thought of alone.
Organizing and Visualizing the Complexities of a Case
Cold cases often involve a tangled web of information. AI tools can help bring order to this chaos. An AI-generated case Summary & Chatbot offers quick, auto-generated case briefs.
This helps investigators grasp the whole story fast. An AI assistant can give real-time timelines, theories, or probabilities. Just ask it questions.
Visualizing the case is also critical. A Dynamic Case Map can automatically gather all locations from documents, transcripts, and reports. It then plots these places to show geographical connections or patterns.
A Chronological Timeline shows how the case developed. It updates automatically as new information becomes available.
These tools facilitate a clearer understanding of the sequence of events and the relationships between various pieces of evidence.
Connecting the Dots: Profiles and Relationships
Identifying and understanding the individuals involved in a case is paramount. AI can auto-build profiles. It instantly creates detailed dossiers on victims, suspects, and persons of interest. These profiles link directly to the supporting evidence.
A Relationship Graph shows complex links between people, places, and evidence. It can uncover connections that experienced investigators might overlook.
This tool highlights important networks that can lead to breakthroughs.
Collaboration and Public Engagement
Solving cold cases often requires collaboration and public awareness. AI platforms act as a Collaboration Hub.
They let law enforcement, private investigators, and trusted civilian experts work together in a secure space. You can also create Public Case Pages.
These pages keep cold cases visible. They inform the community and apply pressure on stalled investigations. This may lead to new tips from the public.
Conclusion: A Continued Quest for Justice, Empowered by Innovation
The tragic deaths of Carnell Sledge and Katherine Brown remind us of the violence that still haunts our communities. Their story is a testament to the enduring love of family and friends who refuse to let their memories fade.
AI brings new chances to revive stalled investigations. Features like AI-powered document parsing and vision AI help find hidden truths. Tailored AI personas, dynamic case mapping, and relationship graphs also play a key role. For the families of Carnell and Kate, and countless others yearning for answers, AI could be the catalyst that finally brings closure.
If you have any information, no matter how small, regarding the murders of Carnell Sledge and Kate Brown, please come forward. Every piece of the puzzle matters. Your tip, along with modern investigative methods and tools like Cold Case AI, could help bring justice to Carnell and Kate.
To learn more about how AI can help solve cold cases and potentially submit information to a public case, visit Cold Case AI.