2 arrested, charged with murder after father, daughter killed in southwest Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Two men were arrested and charged with murder in connection with the deaths of a Louisville man and his 9-year-old daughter last August in southwest Louisville.

According to Louisville Metro Police, Antonia Brown, 53, and Antonio Sanderson were arrested Tuesday.

Vernon Lee, 59, and his 9-year-old daughter, Kaylee Lee, were shot and killed in a home on Lyons Avenue, near Dixie Highway in August 2021.

Brown and Sanders were both charged with two counts of murder.

Sanderson was arrested in Tempe, Arizona, and will be extradited back to Louisville.

LMPD Lt. Donny Burbrink commander of LMPD's Homicide Unit said Wednesday the case seems to be a home invasion.

"The Lee family was contacted shortly after the two suspects were in custody and they are grateful to have answers as to the identify to the people who took Vernon and Kaylee away from them," Burbrink said. "There was an empty safe. Speaking with the family, there were specific things Vernon kept in his safe, and we were able to show that those were missing. So everything appears to be a home invasion and that's why this happened."

Despite the arrests, LMPD said this investigation will remain active.

"I can't say for sure that anybody else will be arrested," Burbrink said. "But I think it's our job to make sure anybody who's responsible or has a part to play in this should be held accountable just like the two people that we've gotten so far."

Investigators on this case are thankful for any and all information they got from the community. They're now asking for others who know something about other homicide cases to give them a call.

"We're able to tell a family that the person who killed a 9-year-old is in custody today. That's a great feeling. It really is," Burbrink said. "The unfortunate part is I've got a lot of other families who want that same information. And there's a lot of other people out there that I believe have information that they believe probably isn't relevant. But it could be. And this case is a prime example of that."

Burbrink said he believes within one month, Sanderson will be brought back to Louisville.

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