Spring City Man Charged With Murder In Girlfriend’s Strangulation

WEST CHESTER — A 31-year-old Spring City man was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the Dec. 4 strangulation death of his 21-year-old girlfriend in the couple’s East Vincent Township home, officials reported Thursday.

Leroy Brahm is in Chester County Prison without bail on charges of first- and third-degree murder and related offenses in the strangulation of Annabel Meenan.

In December, Brahm was arraigned before District Judge John Hipple on aggravated assault after Meenan was found dead in the couple’s home.

On Monday, the Chester County coroner’s office ruled the victim’s death a homicide after additional testing was completed. The charges were then upgraded to murder.

“Annabel Meenan suffered as a victim of domestic abuse over a lengthy period of time at the hands of Leroy Brahm,” Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said. “The defendant viciously, intentionally, and callously beat her to death – all of which was captured on home security videos.

“These images are among the most horrific and disturbing displays of depravity ever seen.”

Ryan said her office will do everything possible to hold Brahm accountable for the death.
First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

East Vincent Township Police Chief Matt Williams said: “The death of Annabel Meenan is heartbreaking because we know the unimaginable horror she endured in the last few hours of her life.”

Williams said law enforcement diligently and meticulously collected enough evidence against Brahm to charge him with her murder.

He thanked the first responders who assisted on the scene.

According to court records:

On Dec. 4 at 7 a.m. East Vincent Township police responded to a call from Brahm that his girlfriend was suffering from cardiac arrest.

Police found Meenan lying on the living room floor with wounds and extensive bruising to her face, chest, arms, and legs.

Police started CPR with the assistance of Friendship Ambulance.

The victim was transported to Phoenixville Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police later confiscated a home security system video recorder from the couple’s home in which the suspect was seen assaulting Meenan on four occasions, including Dec. 4.

In the video from Dec. 4, the defendant is seen punching the victim in the head and body at least 85 times and kicking and stomping her at least 80 times in a series of assaults that culminated in her death.