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 on Aug. 22, 2023. Just under three years later in February, Rajai Keyontae Brown, 44, was charged with two counts of open murder for the deaths of Mayes, 46, and Simpson, 67.

Brown was bound over for trial Wednesday after a witness came forward with details about how the killings happened.

Witness Account of the Killings

Jesse Palmer, who testified in court, said he used to live in the home on North Rose Street with Mayes, Simpson and Brown. Palmer told investigators Brown admitted to taking a knife from Mayes during a confrontation and stabbing her.

When Simpson attempted to intervene, Brown allegedly stabbed him as well.

"I don't know if it was the night before or the night of that Tarra had pulled a knife on him," Palmer said in court. "And I don't know what happened between that but 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.

Palmer said he moved out of the home in February 2022 after Brown "shot at him." When he returned a month later, Palmer claims Brown told him he stabbed Mayes and Simpson to death, which was "about a week after their murders."

Investigation Timeline

Through phone records, investigators also 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, according to the court documents. Brown was arrested on Feb. 11, 2026 and charged with two counts of open murder.

Previous Coverage

This case has been covered in previous reporting about a year-long mystery where police searched for the killer of two people found dead in a garage. The bodies were discovered in August 2023, more than a year after they were killed.

Brown will now stand trial in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court for the deaths of Mayes and Simpson.