Metropolitan Police are investigating the double homicide of a 30-year-old mother and her 4-year-old child who were found dead on Thursday, October 25, 2007 in an apartment in the 3600 block of Ely Place SE.

At approximately 9 am today, police responded to investigate a report of trouble at the second floor apartment. Upon arrival, officers found an adult female and a juvenile male unconscious and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The mother has been identified as Turkessa Branch and her son has been identified as Darias Branch. They both resided at the Ely Place address and were pronounced dead on the scene by a representative from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia.   

Branch has five other children ranging in ages from 2 to 11. One of her children is with a family member. The Child and Family Services Agency is assisting the family in placing her four other children. 

This case is under investigation by detectives assigned to the department’s Violent Crimes Branch. Anyone who has information regarding this case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099.

The department offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.  In this case, the reward is up to $50,000.