
Missouri – In a harrowing case in Missouri, a 33-year-old man, identified as S. Brewer, has received two life sentences for the brutal murder of his pregnant 27-year-old girlfriend, identified as B. Toalson, and her unborn child. This tragic incident unfolded in front of Toalson’s 3-and-4-year-old children, marking a horrifying moment of domestic violence. Brewer, who pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, will serve his sentence in a state correctional facility.
The incident occurred on August 1, 2023, when deputies from the sheriff’s office were dispatched to the scene of a reported assault with a weapon at a residence. Upon arrival, they discovered Toalson with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene and was later determined to be approximately four months pregnant at the time of her death. Family members identified the victim as Toalson. Witnesses and doorbell camera footage quickly implicated Brewer as the shooter, showing him exiting Toalson’s home with a firearm immediately after the incident.
A probable cause affidavit revealed chilling details of the confrontation leading to Toalson’s death. During a post-Miranda interview, Brewer admitted to retrieving a handgun from a shelf during an argument with Toalson. Brewer stated that he fired the gun as Toalson argued with him, striking her in the head and watching as she collapsed and bled out against a wall. Adding to the tragedy, it was disclosed that the victim’s two young children were present in the home during the shooting and were found with Brewer at the time of his arrest. Brewer also led investigators to the murder weapon, which he had concealed under a rock in a nearby creek bed.
Brewer, who was originally charged with capital murder, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. This plea led to the dismissal of two counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Judge H. Jacobs sentenced Brewer to serve two life sentences concurrently. Under Missouri law, Brewer is required to serve at least 85% of his 30-year life sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.
The sentencing did not bring closure to all family members. Toalson’s mother expressed her disappointment with the plea deal, telling local media that she had hoped for the death penalty or a life sentence without the possibility of parole. She criticized Brewer’s demeanor during the sentencing, noting his lack of apology and visible remorse. Toalson’s cousin echoed these sentiments, pointing out Brewer’s apparent indifference and lack of regret over the killing. The family also highlighted Brewer’s history of domestic violence, which included previous charges filed against him in 2019 and 2021, underscoring a brutal pattern of behavior that culminated in this tragic act.
The case has left a community in mourning and a family grappling with the loss of a loved one under the most horrific circumstances. The local authorities and the judicial system have pledged to continue addressing issues of domestic violence with the seriousness they deserve, hoping to prevent future tragedies of this nature.