A Houston man is facing charges after allegedly stabbing his brother to death during a dispute last Thursday, according to local law enforcement. Cory Madison Kellett, 29, has been charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by the 208th State District Court. The victim, a 23-year-old man whose identity has not been disclosed, was Kellett’s younger brother.
Houston Police Department (HPD) officers responded to a reported stabbing at a residence on Garden Parks Drive around 4:10 p.m. Upon arrival, they found that the victim had already been transported to HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, where he was later pronounced dead.
Initial investigations and witness accounts suggest that the altercation began as a verbal dispute in the driveway of the residence. Kellett is believed to have produced a knife and stabbed his brother during the argument. After the incident, Kellett was seen fleeing the scene in a white, four-door Alfa Romeo sedan with paper license plates.
The suspect is still at large, and his current location is unknown. The HPD is actively searching for Kellett, who is suspected of using a foot-long curved blade, colloquially referred to as a “pirate sword,” to fatally wound his brother.
The victim, identified as Robert Payne Stewart, was found with a severe stab wound. Witnesses at the scene quickly identified Kellett as the alleged perpetrator. According to the arrest affidavit, Stewart’s roommate was alerted to the situation by a panicked Stewart, who informed him that his brother was outside. The roommate then witnessed Kellett engaged in a conversation with a neighbor.
The affidavit further reveals that Kellett brandished a large knife and advanced towards the roommate, who retreated into the house in fear. A neighbor reported hearing a physical altercation, followed by Stewart’s refusal to let Kellett into his home. The situation escalated when Stewart tried to prevent his brother from entering the house, resulting in Kellett slashing his neck.
Further investigation revealed that Kellett had previously been evicted from the house, leaving him homeless. A neighbor also disclosed that Stewart had mentioned a previous stabbing incident involving Kellett, which had led to his eviction.
The day after the incident, Kellett’s ex-girlfriend shared a Facebook post dated August 7, featuring images of Kellett’s car and knife, captioned “New bday swords.” Based on the evidence, detectives have issued an arrest warrant for Kellett.