Man admits to swiping machete, killing mother: Authorities
Share and Follow

Background: The 7700 block of Upper Somers Road in Camden, Ohio (WHIO/YouTube) Inset: Kenneth Brabant appears in court on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, for murder and other charges (WHIO/YouTube)

New details have emerged in the case of an Ohio man accused of wildly swinging a machete at a woman on the back of a motorcycle following his court appearance on Wednesday.

Kenneth Wayne Brabant, 59, “became emotional” and was “upset and apologetic” when he learned 41-year-old Leigha Huff died, Preble County Sheriff”s Office Captain Shane Hatfield testified in court, per Dayton CBS affiliate WHIO.

He was so repentant, investigators said, that he reportedly drew a map for deputies to find the machete in the woods behind his home after he had initially cleaned the blood off of it and hid it.

Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.

Law&Crime previously reported that Brabant was charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and assault in the case. It was the night of June 22 when Huff was riding on the back of a motorcycle with another man on Upper Somers Road in Camden. Around the same time, Brabant’s daughter, who has not been named, called 911.

“My ex is running up and down the road on his motorcycle, revving it up, trying to get my dad to come out,” she said, according to audio obtained by WHIO. “My dad is outside.”

Minutes later, Huff and the man she was riding with drove down the dark street. Suddenly, Huff was struck in the leg with something – later revealed to be a machete. “Oh my god, I’m hit, I’m hit,” the man she was with quoted her as saying.

Before emergency medical services were able to care for Huff, she bled out, authorities said. It is unclear if an ex-boyfriend of Brabant’s daughter was actually nearby that night. Authorities said neither Huff nor the man she was with knew Brabant or his daughter.

In court on Wednesday, Hatfield shined further light into what transpired after Huff’s death. When he interviewed Brabant, the suspect reportedly became apologetic and admitted to striking her with the machete.

“He [had] seen the motorcycle coming and he swung,” Hatfield said, per Cincinnati NBC affiliate WLWT. “So I asked him what he swung. He said, ‘that’s the bad part.’ So what was it? He said it was a machete.”

The outlet reported that Huff is being remembered as a single mother who was fighting a long battle with cancer. “She was a very wonderful person, very charismatic,” said Jeremy Tucker, a friend of Huff, according to Dayton NBC affiliate WDTN. “She loved live music and stuff like that.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Brian Walshe Faces Courtroom Drama as Wife’s Alleged Affair is Revealed; Jury Delivers Verdict

Brian Walshe has been handed a life sentence without the chance for…

Shocking Twist: Estranged Husband Arrested in Wife’s Mysterious Death After Apparent 75-Foot Fall

Share In a recent development out of California, a 66-year-old man has…

Federal Investigation Uncovers Weapons Cache as Anti-Trump Extremist Threatens Violence Against Supporters and ICE Agents

Left: Donald Trump speaks at the annual Road to Majority conference in…

Man Sentenced After Road Rage Incident Involving Shooting and Car Crash

Insets: Nicholas Hernandez and victim Julie Marie Butcher (Bexar County Jail/GoFundMe). Background:…

Hawthorne Road Rage Escalates: Local Man Arrested for Brandishing Firearm

In a startling incident of road rage in Hawthorne, Florida, 64-year-old Allen…

South Carolina Teen Denied Bond After Grisly Double Murder of Grandparents in Home

A young man from South Carolina is now facing serious charges after…

Urgent Alert: Kansas 2nd Grade Teacher Disappears Mysteriously – Community on High Alert

The Emporia Police Department in Kansas is actively investigating the mysterious disappearance…

Archer Resident Detained for Alleged Assault and Threats Against Hospital Staff

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On January 23, authorities apprehended 20-year-old Ashley…