Jury Rejects Self-Defense Claim for Shocking Florida Murder

Just two days before her boyfriend was found dying on their living room floor, Brittany Nicole Holbrook allegedly made a chilling promise. Drunk and angry, she fantasized about slicing her ex-boyfriend “upward from his stomach to his throat,” as reported by Fox News. Now, Holbrook has been sentenced to 40 years behind bars for the murder of Tyler Kinnon Nulisch.

A Deadly Night in Monroe County

The tragedy unfolded in the early morning hours of June 17, 2023. According to authorities, Holbrook, 35, shot 30-year-old Nulisch in the back inside their Big Coppitt Key home after a night of drinking.

Their roommate, Jordan Kinn, awoke to Holbrook screaming and found Nulisch bleeding heavily on the floor. When Kinn asked what happened, Nulisch managed to say, “That [expletive] shot me in the back,” before losing consciousness, according to Fox News.

Despite Holbrook’s claims of self-defense, investigators found no physical injuries to back up her story. A 9mm handgun and spent casing were recovered at the scene, and Holbrook showed no signs of strangulation that she had alleged.

Dark Fantasies Revealed

Just days earlier, Holbrook had reportedly been out drinking with Jessica Stiegel, the girlfriend of Nulisch’s childhood friend. According to Stiegel, Holbrook drunkenly described wanting to kill her ex-boyfriend in graphic detail.

“It was like she was describing gutting a deer,” Stiegel told Fox News. Although Holbrook didn’t mention Nulisch that night, friends said her temper often worsened with alcohol, leading to violent outbursts.

A Swift Verdict and a Stiff Sentence

Prosecutors argued that the evidence pointed clearly to an unprovoked attack. “The evidence spoke volumes,” said Chief Assistant Monroe County State Attorney Joseph Mansfield, according to Local 10, adding that Holbrook’s self-defense claims were “simply not supported,” the Miami Herald reported.

On Feb. 24, 2025, a jury took less than an hour to convict Holbrook of second-degree murder with a firearm. Last week, she was sentenced to 40 years in state prison, with the first 25 years to be served without the possibility of early release.

Remembering Tyler Nulisch

Loved ones remembered Nulisch as a kind soul who loved fishing, nature, and spending time with his beloved dog, Chief. “His beautiful smile would fill you with love and his easy spirit would brighten your day,” his obituary read, according to PEOPLE.

Holbrook will now spend decades in prison for the killing of Tyler Nulisch, a case that authorities say highlights how quickly violence can escalate. Meanwhile, Nulisch’s family and friends continue to remember him for his gentle spirit and love of the outdoors.

References: Jury convicts Keys woman who shot and killed boyfriend. Her strangle story didn’t hold up | She Allegedly Shared Fantasy About Cutting Ex’s Stomach ‘Upward to His Throat.’ 2 Days Later, She Killed Her Boyfriend | Florida Keys woman sentenced in boyfriend’s murder | Florida woman threatened to gut ex like ‘a deer’ before arrest in lover’s murder: friend