Jay Couple Arrested On Child Sex Charges; Sheriff Described Victim As The Youngest He Has Seen

January 19, 2021

A Jay couple has been accused of sex crimes against a child that Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Bob Johnson described as “what is probably the youngest victim I’ve ever seen in 38-years of law enforcement.”

Brandi Nacole Harper, 38, and her boyfriend, 35-year old John David McKenzie were described as “mutts” by Johnson during a press conference Tuesday morning.

“If I had my way, I’d take them to the vet and have them put down like a dog. But that’s just me,” Johnson said.

McKenzie, 35, was charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography. Each count is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Harper, 38, was charged with two counts of capital sexual battery on a victim under 12. If convicted, she faces two consecutive life sentences.

Johnson said Harper’s adult son was going through his mom’s bedroom and found McKenzie’s unlocked phone that contained multiple images of what the sheriff described as obvious child pornography. He turned the phone over to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office where investigators download the phone’s contents and found multiple images of child pornography.

The sheriff said Harper appeared in “a very disturbing video” with the young child.

“One of the platforms that I ran on was zero tolerance for crimes involving our most vulnerable victims — whether they’re juveniles, elderly individuals or those involved in human trafficking,” State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden said.

“I do anticipate and expect to go full force on these types on crimes,” Bowden said. “I think that these are the most egregious types of crimes that we deal with, and unfortunately, it’s much more prevalent than we would like to acknowledge. But it’s there.”

Johnson said more charges against McKenzie are expected in the near future.

“It just make s me sick to my stomach when you realize what human beings are capable of doing to other human beings, especially human beings that can’t take of themselves,” the sheriff said.
McKenzie remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $75,000, while Harper was held in the jail without bond.

Pictured below: Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson listens as Stat Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden speaks about the arrests of Brandi Nacole Harper and her boyfriend, John David McKenzie, during a press conference Tuesday morning. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

25 Responses to “Jay Couple Arrested On Child Sex Charges; Sheriff Described Victim As The Youngest He Has Seen”

  1. Vet on June 13th, 2022 10:23 am

    Sick sick scum bags!! How could you harm your baby and those other children, EVIL EVIL jail is to good for you!!!

  2. Thomas Lee on February 18th, 2021 5:10 am

    Her mother is rolling over in her grave with disgust… The sister needs to wake up…what if this happened to to her grandson… He’s about the age that some of the victims are….

  3. ProAmerica on February 8th, 2021 4:08 pm

    Crazy that my sister was dating this guy not to long ago. He was a scummy person then too mis treated her all the time, and I’m pretty sure he has his own kid(s) too, just makes me sick to know this guy could have done the same crap with my daughter or little siblings. Glad the trash has finally been picked up!

  4. Beth on January 22nd, 2021 10:00 am

    Please save money and execute them today so they can burn in hell. We citizens DO NOT WANT TO FEED THEM FOR ONE MORE DAY!!!! THEY ARE DEMONS JUST LIKE EVERYONE WHO HURTS CHILDREN AND ANIMALS. And WHY is the bond so low? He will get out and run and more children will be hurt forever.

  5. Jay citizen on January 21st, 2021 9:10 am

    @ Lila hHudson Statements like your is what gives my hometown a bad name. This is still The United States of American and people are allowed to move wherever they choose.
    I believe the female has been here in Jay most of her life. I do not personally know her but I have saw her around town.

    I do not condone their actions in the slightest bit.

  6. 429SCJ on January 20th, 2021 8:15 pm

    This is fiendish and demonic in nature.

    Suffer not those two to live.

  7. Lila hHudson on January 20th, 2021 7:55 pm

    How are we in Jay getting the out cast of society coming into our community ? Where are they coming from ? The area needs to check out those moving into Community .

  8. Hmmm. on January 20th, 2021 9:57 am

    Something added to the water in S.R. County?

  9. HeWon on January 20th, 2021 9:07 am

    @Florida Do you just spout off how you feel all the time or do you ever research the lies you spew? Oregon is the pedophile capital

  10. just sayin on January 20th, 2021 8:57 am

    @Karma. I don’t see any comments where people are defending her for her actions.

  11. SueB on January 20th, 2021 8:33 am

    The cops get the people, put them in Jail. Then the Judge sets $75000.00 bond!!

  12. john on January 20th, 2021 6:30 am

    If you don’t have Jesus, you are capable anything.

  13. Florida on January 20th, 2021 4:58 am

    Florida, pedophile capitol of the United States.

  14. Karma on January 19th, 2021 9:46 pm

    Goes to show that you don’t really know a person like you think you did, this has got to be the sickest case that I have ever read in my entire life, they don’t even deserve a prison cell, I am going to leave it at that, people are saying don’t say anything bad about Brandi, that you don’t know the whole story, she’s innocent, a video doesn’t lie, you are done with for life, you might as well get ready, cause for what you did to an INNOCENT child, you will be dealt with the right way in prison. There is no excuse for behavior like this, there is a special place in Hell for these two and the only ones that truly suffer are the innocent children, thanks to the son for turning the phone over to the police department you did the right thing.

  15. Willis on January 19th, 2021 9:45 pm

    No Sheriff.
    You are not alone when feeling that way about “mutts”.

  16. Just saying on January 19th, 2021 9:34 pm

    KEEP THEM IN JAIL or the locals will TAKE CARE of THEM BOTH..JUst saying…..

  17. Anita on January 19th, 2021 8:24 pm

    @TJ
    Best response ever.

  18. Disgusted on January 19th, 2021 7:29 pm

    ONLY a $75,000 bond?

  19. Bigblock345 on January 19th, 2021 6:03 pm

    Some people don’t deserve to live. Stake them out in the woods and let the coyotes have them.

  20. JTV on January 19th, 2021 5:19 pm

    They’ll never do what is really needed to stop this. Take them both out back and execute them.

  21. Heather Courtney on January 19th, 2021 5:16 pm

    I really think we should bring back public hangings for these types

  22. S.Hales on January 19th, 2021 4:29 pm

    Filthy, no good scum, Jesus speaks about harming children. These thugs should be taken to a Vet, but I prefer the slow painful way. May they burn in HELL!

  23. paul on January 19th, 2021 4:09 pm

    prison bound

  24. Allison on January 19th, 2021 2:59 pm

    I am so glad that these people have been caught. It is unforgivable what they have done and the abuse will ruin this child’s life and any other children they have preyed on. It is so horrifying and so sad for the victim. Prayers for this sweet, innocent child.

  25. TJ on January 19th, 2021 2:48 pm

    I’m a Vet and I make house-calls!