He murdered two in Conway in 2017. Now, he’s suing to get off death row, receive $400M
A man who killed two employees at a Conway bank in 2017 has filed a federal lawsuit seeking $400 million and release from death row.
Brandon Council, who was on the run from robberies in North Carolina and staying at a motel near the CresCom branch, brutally murdered Katie Skeen and Donna Major after walking from the hotel to the branch on 16th Avenue near U.S. 501.
Council previously confessed to police and admitted he knew he was going to kill the employees before going into the bank.
“I’m a doofus, I’m an idiot,” Council told the officers for what he described as his “(expletive)-up” decision-making. “I don’t deserve to live.”
Now, though, he believes his life should be preserved.
The lawsuit
According to the lawsuit — filed against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, U.S. District Court Judge R. Bryan Harwell, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Williams, Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Shoemake — Council is seeking $100 million for each of the following:
- Attempting to have him executed and murdered.
- Unconstitutional racial discrimination use of slavery.
- Malicious and sadistic torture.
- Willful participation in blind justice.
Council, who is on death row in Indiana, was the first person sentenced for execution since federal officials announced they resumed carrying them out.
In the suit, Council claims his constitutional rights were violated and that he has been housed in “malignant, punitive and mentally-abusive confinement” 24 hours a day, causing psychological damage.
Council filed the suit earlier this month in federal court in Indiana, but the judge dismissed the case, citing the defendants’ immunity from civil claims. However, the judge left room for Council to refile the suit.
The crime
On Aug. 21, 2017, Council killed Skeen and Major during a violent incident inside the bank while on the run from bank robberies in North Carolina.
Council spent money from the robberies on drugs and to feed himself as he hung out at the Conway motel. Soon after, he walked from the hotel into the bank.
Once inside the business, Council went to the teller counter where Major worked.
Council said he had to cash a check and waited for a moment. He glanced at the door and then pulled out a .22-caliber gun and shot Major in the arm. The mother of three held papers to her face to protect herself, as Council continued firing and shot her in the chest, causing Major to stumble into the corner.
Skeen, who was in her office, screamed and Council went from the teller’s station into her office. He told Skeen he was sorry as he shot her twice while she hid under her desk.
Council then ran back to Major, who was lying on the ground, and shot her in the head.
Council spent several minutes walking around the bank and taking money. He also took Skeen’s car keys and drove her vehicle away from the area. Police arrived minutes later to find the women dead in the bank.
Video surveillance captured most of the shooting inside the bank.
As police searched the area for a suspect, Council drove to his home state of North Carolina. He spent the money from the robberies on hotels and bought a car. Days later, authorities arrested him outside a hotel as he exited the car. The clothes he wore during the robbery, the gun and the remaining money from the robbery were in the trunk.
Council was convicted in South Carolina in 2019 and later sentenced to the death penalty for the slayings.
This story was originally published August 24, 2021 at 12:52 PM with the headline "He murdered two in Conway in 2017. Now, he’s suing to get off death row, receive $400M."
