A Kalamazoo man who confessed to killing two people in 2022 will finally face a jury trial after almost three years of waiting. Rajai Keyontae Brown, 44, is bound over to the 9th Circuit Court for trial in the double homicide of Tarra Mayes and Alfred Simpson.
The bodies were discovered in August 2023 by a new homeowner who found decomposing remains in a shed on North Rose Street. Police searched for the killer for a year before charges were filed in February 2026.
A Kalamazoo man is heading to trial for a 2022 double homicide on Kalamazoo's northside. Tarra Mayes and Alfred Simpson's bodies were discovered by a new homeowner in a decomposing state in a shed on North Rose Street Aug. 22, 2023.
A witness came forward with details about how Brown allegedly confessed to the murders. Jesse Palmer, who used to live with the three men and women in the home, told investigators Brown admitted to taking a knife from Mayes during a confrontation and stabbing her.
I don't know if it was the night before or the night of that Tarra had pulled a knife on him. And I don't know what happened between that but he told me that he ended up taking the knife from her and stabbing her and then Neil (Alfred) came in and try to stop him and then he and Neil got into it and he started stabbing Neil.
Palmer said he moved out of the home in February 2022 after Brown shot at him. When Brown returned a month later, Palmer claimed Brown told him about the killings the next month.
I don't know if it was the night before or the night of that Tarra had pulled a knife on him. And I don't know what happened between that but he told me that he ended up taking the knife from her and stabbing her and then Neil (Alfred) came in and try to stop him and then he and Neil got into it and he started stabbing Neil.
Palmer also claimed Brown asked him to help take care of the bodies while looking in the direction of the shed on the property.
I don't know if it was the night before or the night of that Tarra had pulled a knife on him. And I don't know what happened between that but he told me that he ended up taking the knife from her and stabbing her and then Neil (Alfred) came in and try to stop him and then he and Neil got into it and he started stabbing Neil.
Through phone records, investigators learned Mayes' phone stopped sharing location data on March 13, 2022, and Brown's phone was in the same location as Mayes and Simpson until the following day. Phone records were then used to track down Brown in February.
A witness came forward, telling investigators Brown admitted to taking a knife from Mayes during a confrontation and stabbing her, according to court records. When Simpson attempted to intervene, Brown allegedly stabbed him as well.
Brown's defense attorney Caleb Grimes argued Palmer only knew one side of the story. However, the prosecutor pressed forward with the case and Brown was denied bond.
I don't know if it was the night before or the night of that Tarra had pulled a knife on him. And I don't know what happened between that but he told me that he ended up taking the knife from her and stabbing her and then Neil (Alfred) came in and try to stop him and then he and Neil got into it and he started stabbing Neil.
Brown is charged with two counts of open murder for the deaths of Mayes, 46, and Simpson, 67. The case has been a year-long mystery for Kalamazoo police until the witness came forward and phone records helped identify Brown.
A witness came forward, telling investigators Brown admitted to taking a knife from Mayes during a confrontation and stabbing her, according to court records. When Simpson attempted to intervene, Brown allegedly stabbed him as well.