Man Charged With Murder of Former SNL Writer's Sister

Delorean Bijon Brandon, 41, of Los Angeles, was charged Monday with the murder of Christina Downer, a 38-year-old former "Saturday Night Live" writer's sister. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed the criminal complaint, which alleges the crime took place on or about September 19, 2025. Downer's body has not been located.

Brandon faces one count of murder. He also faces two felony counts of injuring a spouse related to a separate incident involving his wife in 2022. The criminal complaint lists prior convictions for Brandon, including robbery and attempted robbery in 2008 and criminal threats in 2015.

Downer, the sister of Jimmy Fowlie, was reported missing on December 18, 2025. Her ex-husband requested a welfare check after she failed to make contact for an extended period. Police stated that Brandon claimed Downer had moved out of their shared residence several months prior. He told investigators she left behind all her personal belongings, including her vehicle and her dog.

Detectives from the Robbery-Homicide Division took over the case after Downer's cellphone was found washed ashore on Santa Monica Beach. Brandon was arrested by those detectives on Thursday. Kaylee Markowski, 34, of Los Angeles, was also taken into custody that same day. The District Attorney's Office identified Markowski as Brandon's girlfriend at the time of the incident.

Markowski was charged with one felony count of being an accessory after the fact. Prosecutors accuse her of assisting Brandon in disposing of the victim's body. If convicted as charged, Brandon faces a potential life sentence in state prison. Markowski faces a maximum of three years in county jail.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman addressed the delay in charges in a statement. He noted that more than a year had passed since Downer vanished. "Her family and friends have dealt with uncertainty amid the profound loss of someone they loved so much," Hochman said. He vowed that the prosecution would hold both defendants accountable for their actions.

The arraignment for both defendants has been postponed until December 29. The District Attorney's Office confirmed the date for the next court appearance.