The person at the center of this case
Carnell 'Nell' Sledge and Kate Brown
Homicide · Open/Unsolved
Carnell Sledge
On June 4, 2019, Carnell 'Nell' Sledge and Kate Brown, longtime friends, were shot and killed at Rocky River Reservation near Cleveland while sitting on a park bench in broad daylight. Both were shot multiple times; nothing was stolen, ruling out robbery. Despite being surrounded by people, no witnesses came forward. The case remains unsolved with multiple theories including hate crime, gang initiation, and jealous ex-partners.
Rocky River Reservation, Cleveland, Ohio
🏛️ Cleveland Metroparks Police Department
Case Summary
On June 4, 2019, Carnell 'Nell' Sledge and Kate Brown, longtime friends, were shot and killed at Rocky River Reservation near Cleveland while sitting on a park bench in broad daylight. Both were shot multiple times; nothing was stolen, ruling out robbery. Despite being surrounded by people, no witnesses came forward. The case remains unsolved with multiple theories including hate crime, gang initiation, and jealous ex-partners.
Timeline of Events
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June 4, 2019
4:00 PMCarnell texts Kate
Carnell texted Kate asking if she wanted to meet; she called back from the gym and they arranged to meet at the park
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June 4, 2019
5:00 PMVictims sit on park bench
Kate and Carnell sat down on a park bench to chat, unaware someone was watching them
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June 4, 2019
5:18 PMBodies discovered
A couple looking to kayak discovered Carnell shot multiple times in the head near the bench and Kate face-down in the shallow creek
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Points of Interest / Key Leads
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suspect
Lead #1Unknown assailant who was lying in wait, familiar with the park, confident enough to commit murder during peak hours
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witness
Lead #2Man sitting in nearby truck who reportedly saw or heard nothing unusual
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clue
Lead #3Gang graffiti on nearby walkway; victims appeared as interracial couple in area with gang activity
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evidence
Lead #4No belongings stolen (phones, wallets, jewelry, laptops, cars); murder weapon never recovered
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person
Lead #5Kate's recent dating app contact described as 'off' who was allegedly involved in a fatal stabbing; abusive ex-boyfriend who was with Kate the night before
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Case Information
Case Type:
Homicide
Status:
Open/Unsolved
Case Number:11
Started:June 4, 2019 at Invalid Date
Last Updated:July 3, 2025