Father of slain Jefferson County deputy keeps 1,089 pieces of evidence on phone as case marks one year

More than a year after Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Shirley was killed, his father says he is keeping the case close by carrying 1,089 pieces of evidence on his phone, a habit he described as part of a relentless search for justice. Speaking around the anniversary, the father said the evidence is not just stored, but carried day to day as a reminder that the investigation and any related legal process must keep moving.

The family, friends, and colleagues gathered Friday to remember Shirley and mark one year since his death, according to WAVE. The report described the father’s approach as an effort to keep his son’s memory active and the case from fading out of public attention.

WAVE reported that the father has organized and saved the evidence items on his phone, totaling 1,089, rather than leaving them boxed away. He said the effort reflects both grief and a practical commitment to maintaining continuity in what he has been told, what he has learned, and what he believes remains important to see the matter through.

The WAVE story also characterized the phone-held evidence as a key part of how the father stays engaged with the case while he mourns. In addition to personal remembrance, the report described community support around the anniversary, with colleagues and others coming together to honor Shirley’s service.

Because the report focused on the family’s actions and the anniversary remembrance, it did not provide new, specific courtroom or investigative milestones in the account. The next steps in the public process would depend on what law enforcement investigators and prosecutors have filed, whether any hearings are scheduled, and what developments the family and officials can confirm.

The case has now reached a full-year mark since Shirley’s death, and the father’s decision to keep hundreds of evidence items readily accessible underscores the stakes for families trying to ensure that unanswered questions remain subject to follow-through by the institutions responsible for public safety and accountability.