A chilling case has emerged from Camden, Ohio, where 59-year-old Kenneth Wayne Brabant has been charged with murder, assault, and tampering with evidence after allegedly attacking 41-year-old Leigha Huff with a machete while she was riding on the back of a motorcycle.
The incident, which occurred on June 22, has shocked the community, especially as details from Brabant’s confession reveal a disturbing series of events leading up to Huff’s tragic death. Brabant, who reportedly became emotional and apologetic after Huff’s death, is now facing serious charges as the investigation continues.
The Attack and the Events Leading Up to It
On the night of June 22, Leigha Huff was riding as a passenger on the back of a motorcycle with a man on Upper Somers Road in Camden. Brabant’s daughter called 911 shortly before the incident, reporting that her ex-boyfriend was revving his motorcycle, attempting to provoke her father.
Shortly thereafter, Huff and the man she was with drove down the road, only to be struck by an object—later confirmed to be a machete.
According to authorities, the man Huff was with heard her scream, “Oh my god, I’m hit, I’m hit.” Tragically, Huff bled out before emergency medical services could reach her. Investigators later revealed that neither Huff nor the man she was with knew Brabant or his daughter.
The motives behind the attack remain unclear, and it is unknown if Brabant’s daughter’s ex-boyfriend played any role in the events that night.
Brabant’s Confession and Actions After the Incident
In court, Preble County Sheriff’s Office Captain Shane Hatfield provided further insight into Brabant’s actions following the attack. Brabant, when confronted by investigators, became emotional and apologetic after learning that Huff had died. He allegedly admitted to striking her with the machete after seeing the motorcycle pass by.
When questioned about what weapon he had used, Brabant reportedly said, “That’s the bad part,” before revealing that it was a machete.
He then directed authorities to the woods behind his home, where he had hidden the machete after cleaning the blood off of it. Brabant’s willingness to cooperate with the investigation, however, did not absolve him of the gravity of his actions.
The Impact of the Incident
Leigha Huff, a single mother, was remembered by friends and loved ones as a strong, charismatic woman who had been fighting a long battle with cancer. Jeremy Tucker, a close friend of Huff, described her as a devoted mother who survived multiple battles with cancer while raising her son.
“She always survived through that and raised her son like an awesome mother would,” Tucker said in an emotional tribute. Huff’s death has left a void in the lives of those who knew her, especially her family, as she was described as a kind and loving person.
Her tragic death has sparked outrage, not only because of the brutality of the attack but also due to the fact that it occurred during what should have been a normal, uneventful evening. The community is now left to process the loss of a mother, a friend, and a fighter who had already overcome so much in her life.
Brabant’s Legal Proceedings
Brabant has been charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and assault in connection with Huff’s death. He is expected to appear in common pleas court in the coming weeks.
As the legal proceedings continue, the focus will be on determining Brabant’s motives for the attack and whether there were any previous conflicts that led to such a violent and senseless act.
The death of Leigha Huff has left her community in mourning and raised important questions about the underlying causes of the attack. Brabant’s confession and his actions following the crime provide a chilling look into the mind of a man who allegedly attacked an innocent woman with a machete.
As authorities continue to investigate, justice for Huff’s family remains a top priority. Brabant’s upcoming court appearances will be critical in understanding why such a brutal and unnecessary act was committed and how the justice system will hold him accountable for his actions.
