Brooke Preston, 21, was fatally stabbed in her West Palm Beach, Florida, residence in 2017 by Randy Herman Jr., her roommate and lifelong friend.
All parties concur on this fact, including Herman, who dialed 911 and confessed to the murder shortly after it occurred. It’s debatable whether he killed his companion while sleepwalking and under the influence of a severe hangover, which was his unlikely defense.
The Hulu documentary “Dead Asleep” further investigates Herman’s defense. Continue reading for more details about Brooke Preston, her sleepwalking murder, Herman’s current whereabouts, and more!
The Homicide of Brooke Preston & the Truth About Hulu’s “Dead Asleep”https://t.co/OT4yF4Gl5h
— Kendall Rae (@KendallRaeOnYT) January 25, 2022
Brooke Preston: Who Was She?
Preston was born in the United States on September 1, 1995, to parents John Edward Preston and Nancy Slabicki in Sayre, Pennsylvania. Brooke Preston’s age at the time of her death was 21.
She always celebrated her birthday on September 1. Brooke was killed on March 25, 2017, in Brooke’s apartment in West Palm Beach, Florida. Each year, her loved ones inundated her with birthday wishes and blessings.
Preston’s zodiac sign, Virgo, aligned with her actual birth date.
Individuals with Virgo as their zodiac sign typically exhibit a blend of modesty, productivity, and efficiency. However, on a deeper level, they are often genuine, kind, and considerate, as befits their zodiac sign.
It implies that assumptions about her personality are influenced by her zodiac sign. She was enrolled at the State College of Florida to pursue a business degree.
Sayre, Pennsylvania, was the birthplace of Brooke Preston. Nancy Slabicki and John Edward Preston were her parents, and Jordan Preston and Jessica Kipp were her sisters.
This Monday, Tom & Ben explore the case of Randy Herman Jr: The Sleepwalk Murder
In 2017, Brooke Preston was stabbed 25 times by her roommate Randy – this much of the case is agreed by all. However, when informing police, Randy claimed it all happened whilst he was sleepwalking. pic.twitter.com/MlVDwFZbKE
— I Could Murder A Podcast (@CouldMurderAPod) June 4, 2022
Brooke Preston Murder By Roommate Randy Herman
Herman’s story goes as follows: Per the Miami New Times, Preston had only a few personal items remaining in the Florida home as she was in the process of relocating to live with her partner in New York.
She had come to West Palm Beach to collect these belongings and bid her friends farewell. Herman, who allegedly had alcohol problems due to his two DUI convictions, treated her visit as a final celebration and reportedly consumed more than 30 beers daily.
Due to his intoxication, Preston was irritated, so she spent the night with another mutually known friend.
An extremely hungover Herman assisted Preston with packing one last item the next morning: a shirt honoring a deceased friend.
Herman claimed he saw Preston leave his room as he drifted off to sleep after exchanging farewell embraces. He asserted that he awoke the following morning holding a knife over Preston’s lifeless body.
Brooke Preston Murderer’s SleepWalking Defense
Upon arriving at Haverhill Park in Palm Beach, Florida, where the 911 call originated, the police discovered Herman near a pavilion.
First responders found Herman, drenched in blood, with a wound on his left hand between his thumb and index finger.
Upon arriving at the park to apprehend Herman, they returned to the shared residence where they found a grisly crime scene and the alleged murder weapon, later identified as a “hunting-style knife.”
According to The Daily Beast, a police report later indicated that Herman cut himself on the knife after slipping and injuring his hand. Investigators found Preston’s body wrapped in a blanket and noted what appeared to be defensive wounds on her hand.
During the trial, Herman’s defense contended that even though he committed the murder, he was sleepwalking. While rare, instances of sleepwalkers committing murder exist.
Per The Palm Beach Post, specific conditions must be met for a murder to be attributed to sleepwalking.
These criteria can encompass a history of sleepwalking violence, no clear motive, and a victim deeply loved by the perpetrator. Most of these conditions apply in Herman’s case.
Rejection of the SleepWalking Defense
Reportedly, Herman’s mother initially proposed the sleepwalking theory to the detectives, disclosing that her son had experienced significant episodes of sleepwalking, including an incident when he cycled to her workplace while asleep, as per the Miami New Times, although Herman denied recollection of it.
A 12-member jury dismissed Herman’s sleepwalking defense in 2019 (according to the Palm Beach Post). The night before, Herman had reportedly curled up naked in Preston’s closet, and a friend of his revealed.
To The Daily Beast, that he thought Herman had strong feelings for Preston. Prosecutors, searching for a rationale for Preston’s death, portrayed the murder as driven by unrequited affection.
The prosecution also found the sleepwalking theory implausible. Reid Scott, an assistant state attorney, mentioned during his closing statement, “This is skin, this is bone, this is muscle (he’s stabbing).” “You don’’t just sleepwalk through that,” she remarked.
Nevertheless, Herman continues to maintain that he has no memory of Preston’s demise. In a letter to the Miami New Times, he tried to make sense of the conflicting emotions he is grappling with while serving a life sentence.
He wrote, “Excessive stress, sadness, trauma, and alcohol were the main causes of my mental collapse. I sincerely apologize. I have conflicting feelings about receiving a life sentence and another chance because I didn’t do this on purpose.”
Sentencing of Randy Herman
After nearly five hours of deliberation, a 12-member jury found Randy Herman Jr. guilty of first-degree murder and imposed a mandatory life sentence.
He claimed to have been sleepwalking when he attacked Brooke Preston, but that defense was debunked.
As the verdict was announced, the families of Randy and Brooke wept silently on opposite sides of the courtroom.
In 2019, a jury found Randy guilty of first-degree murder of Brooke and sentenced him to life in prison. The judge dismissed his sleepwalking defense.
As for Randy’s family background, he was raised by his older sister and a single mother.
When Randy was young, his parents divorced. His father, a heavy drinker, was the primary suspect in his girlfriend’s murder. It was later reported that he fled to Alabama before taking his own life.
Hulu Documentary About Brooke Preston’s Murder
The Hulu documentary about Randy Herman Jr. is called “Dead Sleep” and is set to premiere on December 16th, 2021.
The cast and crew of the film include Skye Borgman (director), Sandrine Magloire-Szlasa (producer), Skye Borgman, Marisa Clifford, Nelesh Dhand, Poppy Dixon, Sunshine Jackson, Jack Oliver, and Darren Valdez (film editors).
Where is Randy Herman Today?
Randy Herman Jr. is serving a life sentence in Florida. Even though the exact facility where he is housed is undisclosed.
He has been imprisoned since his conviction for first-degree murder in May 2019.
