On March 3, 2020, Brenda Powell was murdered by her daughter Sydney Powell at their home in Akron, Ohio, after Powell found out that her daughter had been suspended from her university due to poor grades. The murder was a shock to Brenda’s family but also her friends and the wider community. Brenda was described as a selfless person and was committed to helping patients in her role at the Akron Children’s Hospital.
In September 2023, Syndey was convicted of killing her mother and was sentenced to life in jail, with the chance of parole after at least 15 years.
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What happened to Brenda Powell in Akron, Ohio?
Brenda Powell was murdered by her then-19-year-old daughter Sydney on March 3, 2020, after she flew into a murderous rage. Prosecutors said that Powell was hit multiple times with a cast-iron skillet and was stabbed with a steak knife.
Sydney killed her mother when her mother found out she’d been suspended from the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, due to her low grades. Powell was on the phone to school officials when she was attacked, NBC reported. The school officials heard screaming at the other end of the phone and immediately contacted the police.
“The phone cut off at some point after, I would say, somewhere in the neighborhood of six or seven of those thudding, those sort of thud sounds, and the screaming had continued,” Associate Dean of Students Michelle Gaffney testified in September 2023, NBC reported.
The school repeatedly called Powell back, and after some time a voice responded, and claimed to be Brenda. However, this didn’t reassure university staff, with Gaffney saying:
“It was not Brenda. I was sure it was Sydney. Both Dean [of Students John] Frazier and I looked at each other and sort of shook our heads at each other and said that’s not Brenda. He then said, ‘Sydney, I think this is you, this is not Brenda.’ The phone went dead.”
When police arrived, they found Sydney in the driveway of the house, and her eyes were rolled back and clawing at the ground, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. Sydney’s lawyers described her as “in a catatonic state — not responding to audio stimuli.” Police were able to get Powell to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, however, they were unable to stop her from dying.
Sydney pleaded not guilty during the trial and claimed temporary insanity. The jury convicted her of murder, assault, and tampering with evidence in September 2023. She will be eligible for parole after she has served at least 15 years but may spend the rest of her life behind bars.
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How old was Brenda Powell when she was murdered?
Brenda Powell was 50 years old when her daughter stabbed and killed her. Powell was born on March 19, 1969 in Salem, Ohio. She was a much-loved woman in the community, who was cherished by many of her friends and was a beacon of joy for many people.
Her death wasn’t just felt by her family and friends. Speaking to the Akron Beacon Journal, Jackie Custer, a former patient of the hospital Powell worked at, said “She was like a second mom to me and the mom at the hospital.”
Did Brenda Powell have a husband?
Brenda Powell was married, to her husband Steven. Their marriage lasted for 24 years, and during that time the pair had two children, Sydney and Andrew. The family was very supportive of each other, as Brenda would make sure to celebrate every success the family had together, no matter how small.
Her husband and children aren’t the only family still alive. Powell’s parents and their spouses, Elizabeth and Robert Brown, Tom and Susan Doyle, her brother Tom, several aunts, uncles, and cousins, and her grandmother Kathryn Gallo are all left to pick up the pieces after Powell’s death.
Brenda Powell and her daughter Sydney | Image via Court TV
What did Brenda Powell’s obituary say?
An obituary for Brenda Powell was published by Legacy.com. It explained that she passed away unexpectedly on March 3, 2020, having lived for 50 years. She graduated from the University of Akron and worked as a child life specialist in the hematology-oncology unit at Akron Children’s Hospital for 28 years, her whole career.
The obituary described her husband and children as “the lights of her life” and she was unconditionally devoted to them. She was described as selfless and helped plan activities to celebrate all of her family’s successes. “She was a beautiful cherished friend to many.”
The obituary also leaves details of where Brenda’s funeral was held, at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Akron, Ohio. A memorial fund was established, and it left details about how people could donate in her memory.
