Siblings plot to kill stepfather for $1.75 million trust

In December 2020, a nefarious plot emerged in Mississippi, where siblings Joshua D. Bryan and Regan E. Bryan conspired to murder their stepfather in order to claim a $1.75 million trust fund. This sick scheme was reportedly initiated when Regan, a 30-year-old woman, confided in a confidential informant about her desire to end her stepfather’s life, citing alleged past molestation incidents as a motive. The informant, instead of taking action, involved law enforcement and began recording conversations between the siblings, revealing their intentions to abduct and kill the man for financial gain. As the investigation unfolded over the following months, the informant and the siblings discussed their plan, including details about hiring a hitman for $5,000 and how to maintain their alibis while planning the execution. During secret recordings, Joshua expressed indifference to the stepfather's fate when asked for affirmative approval for the murder plan, essentially endorsing the scheme by stating that the informant should do what was deemed suitable. Authorities learned that both Joshua and Regan intended to benefit financially from their stepfather’s death, as they were listed as beneficiaries on the substantial trust fund reportedly set up by their deceased grandmother, which was intended for the stepfather as the main beneficiary. The siblings openly spoke about their desire to “bleed that motherf—er dry,” indicating their premeditated plans to seize the financial assets for themselves rather than allow their stepfather to benefit. In January 2021, following an extensive investigation spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, law enforcement arrested Regan and Joshua. Regan ultimately pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and received a sentence of 65 months in prison. Meanwhile, Joshua was found guilty of the same charge by a jury, resulting in a lengthier prison sentence of 120 months. The case serves as a chilling reminder of the lengths individuals may go to for financial gain, demonstrating an alarming betrayal of familial bonds motivated by greed.