A Las Vegas grandmother’s nightmare unfolded when a loud thud upstairs led her to a horrifying scene: her grandson standing over his girlfriend, smashing her head with a hammer. Brandon Tenorio, 42, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the fatal bludgeoning and stabbing of Kourtney Glover, 36, in a brutal 2023 attack that left the victim dead at the base of the stairs in their Mountain Valley Drive home.
Background
The incident occurred at a residence where Tenorio was staying with his grandmother. According to arrest reports obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the grandmother was upstairs when she heard the initial thud and went to investigate. She discovered Tenorio striking Glover’s head with a hammer while she lay on the ground. When she attempted to intervene, Tenorio pushed her aside and dragged her back inside from the garage, reportedly telling her, "I'm not going to kill you." The grandmother managed to escape to a neighbor's home and call 911. Police arrived at approximately 8:08 p.m. to find Tenorio walking out of the house with his hands raised, covered in blood. He confessed immediately, stating, "I did it. I killed her, she is dead, she is inside."
The Charges
Tenorio pleaded guilty to first-degree murder before his sentencing. During police interviews, Tenorio exhibited signs of severe mental distress, claiming he heard voices telling him "It's time to kill or be killed" and believed a gas truck outside was part of a conspiracy against him. He alleged that Glover was signaling to the driver with a flashlight. Tenorio admitted to grabbing a hammer and striking Glover in the back of the head, followed by stabbing her in the neck, stomach, and back with a kitchen steak knife. He stated he paused to smoke a cigarette because he believed Glover was in pain and he "just wanted to make it stop." Evidence at the scene included a bloody hammer in the downstairs bathroom and three bloody kitchen knives in the kitchen. Glover was pronounced dead at the scene.
Key Takeaways
- Brandon Tenorio, 42, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for first-degree murder.
- The victim, Kourtney Glover, 36, was beaten with a hammer and stabbed with a kitchen knife.
- Tenorio’s grandmother witnessed the attack and attempted to intervene before escaping to call police.
- Tenorio claimed auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions influenced his actions.
- Glover’s family expressed hope that Tenorio would serve his full sentence, with her father stating he is an "eye-for-an-eye" person.
What's Next
With the sentencing complete, Tenorio will begin serving his 20-year term. The case highlights the intersection of untreated mental health issues and substance abuse in violent crimes, as noted by his defense attorney, Caitlyn McAmis, who described the event as a tragedy stemming from significant unaddressed health issues. No further legal proceedings are currently anticipated in this matter.