Madison Branch has been identified by family members and the coroner as the Louisville girl who was stabbed to death Monday night during an altercation with suspect, Tiffany R. James, over alleged bullying. Family members asserted Branch was not involved in the bullying of the suspect’s sister.
Police said Branch, 14, was stabbed in the stomach just before 6 p.m. Monday outside a Portland gas station by 19-year-old James. She later succumbed to her injuries at a Louisville hospital. James has been charged with murder.
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A police report says James (pictured right,) confessed to the stabbing, which happened outside the Speedway in the 2100 block of Duncan Street. Her family told WAVE 3 News Monday night that James stabbed Branch while defending James’ younger sister who they said had been bullied for up to two years. But Branch’s family told WAVE 3 News reporter Kasey Cunningham on Tuesday that, although the James girls were the targets of bullies, Madison Branch was never involved. They said that on Monday night, Madison was accidentally stabbed while trying to defend a friend that Tiffany James had “jumped,” a friend the Branches said also was not involved in the bullying. h/t wave3
The Branch family says it has passed all of the information it has about the persons they describe as the real bullies to police, and are hoping to clear Madison of the bullying allegations.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends at this difficult time.