Months before the disappearance of the sister of a ‘Saturday Night Live’ writer, court documents highlighted alleged patterns of stalking, threats, and domestic violence involving two suspects charged with her death. Los Angeles County prosecutors recently charged Christina Downer’s boyfriend, Delorean Bijon Brandon, with first-degree murder. Brandon’s previous girlfriend, Kaylee Nicole Markowski, is accused of being an accessory after the fact.
Authorities suspect Brandon killed Downer around September 19, 2025, though her remains are yet to be found. Downer, sister to ‘SNL’ writer Jimmy Fowlie, was last spotted in Los Angeles’ Koreatown neighborhood during that month.
Disappearance and Investigation
Authorities were alerted to Downer’s absence in December 2025 when her ex-husband reported her missing. He mentioned not having heard from her for months. Jimmy Fowlie, her brother, made public appeals for information on social media at that time.
Brandon, who lived with Downer, informed the police she moved out, leaving behind her car and pet miniature pinscher named Rex. Later, Downer’s phone was discovered washed ashore at Santa Monica Beach, prompting the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division to spearhead the investigation.
It is believed Brandon and Markowski used Downer’s phone to fabricate messages indicating she disappeared willingly.
Restraining Orders and Abuse Claims
Before she vanished, separate restraining orders were sought by Downer and Brandon against Markowski, accusing her of blackmail and stalking. Both petitions were dismissed when neither appeared in court.
In September 2025, Brandon sought another protective order against Markowski, accusing her of violent behavior. He later withdrew this request, and it’s thought Downer died soon after.
Alyce LaViolette, a domestic violence specialist, stated that courts usually look at the specifics of each case rather than the number of allegations. Unfortunately, this can complicate understanding of broader abuse histories.
Previous Incidents
A recent criminal complaint alleges Brandon previously committed domestic violence against another woman using scissors during assaults in 2022. Charges filed include injuring a cohabitant.
Markowski also faced a civil harassment restraining order from another individual in April 2022, although it was later dismissed.
Legal Proceedings and Appeal for Information
Both suspects remain in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center with bail set at $2 million each. Greg Risling from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office refrained from commenting due to the open case.
The LAPD encourages anyone with information regarding Christina Downer’s case to reach out to the Robbery-Homicide Division at 213-486-6850.
Alyce LaViolette advised that protective orders don’t always correlate with danger levels, stressing the significance of precursors such as strangulation and isolation.