Shivangi Sinha
In November 2019, police responded to a call at the home of Elena Wysong, where they discovered she had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene and had been shot while her three children were inside the house at the time. The shooter was no longer present when authorities arrived, prompting an immediate search. Police quickly launched a manhunt and were able to locate and arrest the suspect shortly afterward. The crime, the killer’s motivations, and the subsequent pursuit of justice were later examined in detail in Investigation Discovery’s ‘American Monster: Draw a Picture.’
Elena Wysong Was Shot While Her Three Children Were in the House With Her
On October 22, 1985, Linda and Gregory Arena welcomed their daughter, Elena Victoria, into the world. She grew up alongside two sisters, Ashley and Michelle, and a brother named Darren, in a warm and supportive home. Surrounded by love, Elena developed into a kind and compassionate woman. She experienced one of the greatest joys of her life when she became a mother to her first daughter, Natalie. Her second daughter, Angelina, was born soon after, and Elena worked hard to provide both girls with a stable and comfortable life. When she married Brandon Wyatt Wysong, Elena entered the marriage with the hope of expanding her family and building a happy life together.
Elena and Brandon went on to welcome two more children together, Alura and Robert, and she also opened her home and heart to her stepson, Logan. The family lived in a house on Westminster Lane in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where they had resided for several years. On November 4, 2019, one of Elena’s daughters called the police at around 6:30 pm, reporting that her mother had been shot. Officers rushed to the home but found that Elena had already died from a gunshot wound to the back of her head. Two additional shots had been fired, and she did not survive. Her daughter and two younger children were still inside the house and reportedly heard the gunshots being fired. Police immediately launched an investigation to identify and locate the person responsible.
Elena Wysong’s Killer Had Fled on Foot After Shooting
Elena Wysong’s daughter, who was just 12 years old at the time, provided police with a detailed account of what had happened. She told investigators that her stepfather, Brandon Wysong, had gotten into an argument with Elena and then dragged her into the living room while holding a gun to her head. The child said she heard her mother screaming, followed by three gunshots, and then saw Brandon flee the house on foot through the back door. She attempted to perform CPR on her mother and called 911, but Elena could not be saved. Police also reviewed Brandon’s criminal history and found that he had prior convictions, including burglary, credit card fraud, destruction of property, and trespassing.
Since August 2018, police had been called to the home nearly 20 times in response to reports of domestic disturbances. Friends and family later alleged that Brandon had been abusive toward Elena, and neighbors also reported seeing police at the residence on multiple occasions, noting frequent disturbances at the household. Following the shooting, authorities immediately issued a “be on the lookout” alert, secured a perimeter around the area, and deployed K-9 units to assist in the search. Brandon was located and arrested shortly afterward and was taken into custody without bail.
Brandon Wysong is in a Virginia Prison Today
Brandon Wysong remained incarcerated, and in February 2023, he chose to plead guilty to charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a non-violent felon. In May 2023, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison, with 15 years suspended, meaning he is required to serve 30 years behind bars. Now 37 years old, Wysong is being held at Red Onion State Prison in Wise County, Virginia. His projected release date is August 2049.
