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Man sentenced to life in prison for killing 1 of 2 twins found burned along Beeline Highway in 2017

Darin Byrd guilty of second-degree murder of Brandon Allen, but not brother Brian Allen
Darin Byrd of West Palm Beach.jpg
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A 26-year-old West Palm Beach man was sentenced to life in prison Monday for the 2017 murder of one of two twin brothers whose bodies were found burned on the side of the Beeline Highway.

Darin Byrd was found guilty of second-degree murder last month in the fatal shooting of Brandon Allen, 21, as well as two counts of tampering with physical evidence. He was acquitted in the death of Allen's twin brother, Brian Allen.

Circuit Judge Jeffrey Gillen sentenced Byrd to life in prison.

His accomplice, Jullian Cathirell, 21 at the time, was found guilty of both murders and sentenced to life in 2022.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office detectives said Cathirell had been in an ongoing feud with Brandon Allen when he fatally shot the 21-year-old brothers in the West Palm Beach apartment they shared.

Detectives said Byrd prevented Brandon Allen from getting away, blocking the door to the foyer and pushing him to the floor.

After the brothers were killed, Cathirell and Byrd cleaned up the crime scene with bleach and alcohol and hid the bodies in a bathtub until the next night, when they drove the bodies to the Beeline Highway and set them on fire, investigators said.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story said Byrd was sentenced to nearly 21 years in prison.

If you have any information regarding the 2007 crimes with ties to the Town Center at Boca Raton, call Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County at 800-458-TIPS. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. You can remain anonymous.

You can also contact the detectives assigned to these cold cases using the information below:

Detective Scott Hanley
Boca Raton Police Department
shanley@myboca.us
561-338-1344

Detective William Springer
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
springerw@pbso.org
561-688-4013