Boyfriend, companion arrested for murder of Christina Downer

Two suspects face murder charges in the death of Christina Downer, a 38-year-old woman whose disappearance was reported nearly ten months ago. The Los Angeles Police Department announced on Thursday that they had taken custody of Delorean Bijon Brandon, 41, and Kaylee Nicole Markowski, 34. Both were booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center with bail set at $2 million each.

Downer was last heard from by family in December 2025. Her ex-husband requested a welfare check on December 18, 2025, after not hearing from her for an extended period. At that time, Brandon told police that Downer had moved out months earlier. He claimed she had left all her belongings behind, including her vehicle and her dog.

The case shifted from a missing person inquiry to a homicide investigation after Downer's cellphone washed ashore on Santa Monica Beach. Homicide detectives took over the case and identified Brandon and Markowski as the individuals responsible for her death, the disposal of her body, and the concealment of their involvement.

Brandon was arrested in the 6000 block of Garvanza Avenue in Los Angeles. Markowski was taken into custody in the 6000 block of Tampa Avenue in Tarzana. The arrests bring a formal conclusion to the initial search efforts that began last winter.

Jimmy Fowlie, Downer's brother and a former writer for Saturday Night Live, addressed the family's status in an Instagram post on April 29. He stated that LAPD informed them Downer was no longer alive. Fowlie wrote that he was sharing the news because he believed those responsible were hoping to erase her in every way possible. He described her as a beautiful person who mattered in the world, especially to him.

The suspect pair has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center since the arrests on October 29. No further court dates or hearings were listed in the department's initial announcement regarding the upcoming legal proceedings for the two defendants.