Born on June 10, 1989, in Stuart, Florida, Brittany Steier spent most of her childhood in nearby Port St. Lucie. She grew up with her older sister, Christie, in a family that remained united even after divorce. Although her parents, Betsy and Joe, separated when Brittany Steier was around five years old, they maintained a strong co-parenting relationship, ensuring both daughters felt supported and loved. Betsy, a minister, would later establish her own church, while Joe pursued a career in real estate development.
From a young age, Brittany’s vibrant personality shone brightly. Summers found her volunteering at a church camp in Silver Springs, where she thrived by organizing dance-offs, performing in skits, and taking center stage at talent shows. Her ability to lead, inspire, and entertain others hinted at a future filled with promise and warmth.
As a young adult, Brittany Steier joined Winn-Dixie as a cashier. Her charisma and dedication quickly propelled her forward. Rising to front-end manager and eventually grocery manager, she gained a reputation for hard work, leadership, and infectious positivity—qualities that earned her admiration from colleagues and customers alike.
A Complicated Romance
Life took a new turn when Brittany met Edward “June” McNeil Harris Jr., a 28-year-old Burger King employee. June, already a father of five from previous relationships, might have seemed like an unlikely match, but Brittany’s nurturing nature pulled her toward him. Friends voiced concern early on. Heather, one of Brittany’s closest confidantes, even sought advice from her husband, a police officer, who strongly urged Brittany to stay away. Despite the warnings, Brittany Steier stood by June, believing in the connection they shared.
By early 2016, Brittany discovered she was expecting. Overjoyed at the idea of motherhood, she prepared to welcome a new chapter in her life. However, tragedy struck when she went into premature labor at just five months. Despite her frantic attempts to reach June during the crisis, he was nowhere to be found. Alone and scared, Brittany Steier lost her daughter, whom she had named Jade. June’s absence during one of the darkest moments of her life exposed the painful cracks in their relationship. Still, Brittany chose forgiveness, hoping to rebuild.
Seeking a New Beginning
Determined to heal, Brittany Steier moved in March 2016 to Bradenton to live with her father. There, she secured a job at a sign company, quickly earning respect for her work ethic and charisma once more. Yet, despite the distance, Brittany remained committed to June, traveling six hours almost every weekend to see him—always at her own expense, always making the effort.
Eventually, Brittany Steier convinced June to relocate to Bradenton. She found them an apartment and helped secure him a job at her brother-in-law’s appliance installation business. But the move only magnified existing problems. Though skilled at his work, June’s explosive temper led to tensions with coworkers and repeated warnings at his new job—an early sign that Brittany’s struggles with June were far from over.
Life in Bradenton, meant to be a fresh start, slowly turned into a silent struggle for Brittany Steier. The once vibrant, cheerful woman began to retreat into herself. Friends at work noticed the change first—how Brittany now spoke less, how she hid behind long sleeves and pants even in Florida’s blazing heat. When asked, she offered casual explanations, always quick to deflect, never letting anyone get too close.
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Behind Closed Doors
Her family saw deeper. Brittany’s mother and stepfather, having met June early on, had long harbored concerns. They recognized the imbalance: Brittany Steier tirelessly working multiple jobs while June contributed little but demanded much. She gave everything she had—emotionally, financially, physically—believing she could mend his brokenness with unconditional love.
In February 2018, Brittany found herself expecting a child once again. She greeted the news with excitement, but a quiet fear grew alongside her joy. The concern deepened when she arrived at a family event with a poorly concealed bruise beneath her eye, explaining it away with a shaky story about slipping in the shower.
March 2, 2018, brought a brief moment of happiness: Brittany Steier gave birth to a healthy baby boy. But just three months later, she discovered she was pregnant again. Always the optimist, she embraced this next chapter wholeheartedly, welcoming her daughter in February 2019. Outwardly, it seemed she was building the life she had always wanted. Inside, however, the emotional and psychological strain continued to mount.
Brittany Steier soon noticed troubling signs in her young son. His sudden outbursts and the way he sought immediate comfort after mirrored the chaos he witnessed at home. For Brittany, this realization was a breaking point. It wasn’t just her life at risk anymore—it was the well-being of her children.
The Escape Plan
On January 31, 2020, Brittany made her move. Without argument, she let June leave for a day with friends. Quietly, she packed her things into plastic bags, loaded up her car, and drove away. She called her sister, Christie, asking to meet in Orlando under the guise of a Disney World trip for the kids. But beneath the surface, it was Brittany’s first real bid for freedom.
After the weekend, Brittany knew she couldn’t return. She reached out to her parents for help and planned to move back in with them. Yet freedom would not come easily. June bombarded her with calls and texts—begging, threatening, cycling through every manipulation tactic he knew. Brittany Steier had entered the most dangerous stage: the moment a survivor leaves.
On February 11, 2020, Brittany Steier stepped into the Sarasota Police Department to tell her story. She described a chilling encounter: agreeing to meet June to retrieve belongings, only to be held at gunpoint for hours. June threatened her life, her children’s lives, and wove horrifying scenarios of murder-suicide, all while their young kids bore witness to the terror.
Police arrested June soon after. Silent during questioning, he demanded an attorney and was booked into the Sarasota County Jail. He faced charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and illegal possession of a firearm—serious offenses, especially for a convicted felon.
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The Heartbreaking Decision
But freedom was fragile. In a choice many survivors face—torn by fear, manipulation, and hope—Brittany Steier made the heartbreaking decision to drop the charges against June, a decision that would haunt everything that came next.
Brittany Steier made the heart-wrenching decision to drop the charges against June Harris, swayed by promises from his family. They assured her that June would seek therapy, that they would keep a close watch over his recovery. Torn between fear and compassion, Brittany later told her father she didn’t want her children to grow up without a father—her choice rooted in hope, a hope that would ultimately betray her.
In the months that followed, Brittany focused on piecing her life back together. She poured her energy into her children, returned to work, and began reconnecting with the friends she had distanced herself from. Her social media offered glimpses of her recovery: smiling photos, moments of laughter, gatherings filled with warmth. It seemed Brittany was finally reclaiming her happiness.
Despite the past, Brittany allowed June limited visits with the children. She believed they deserved a bond with their father, even if it meant treading carefully herself. But June’s behavior didn’t change. He cycled through apologies and empty promises, attempting once again to draw Brittany Steier back under his control.
A Night of Celebration Turns Dark
On July 18, 2020, Brittany traveled to Crawfordville, excited to attend a friend’s engagement party where she would serve as maid of honor. She left the children with June, planning to pick them up the next day. For a few precious hours, Brittany Steier allowed herself to simply celebrate, surrounded by friends who were overjoyed to see her smiling again.
But the joy was short-lived.
Late into the night, a message from June arrived, demanding she collect the children immediately. Brittany’s mood shifted instantly. Her carefree laughter faded, replaced by visible anxiety. Turning to her friend Heather, she asked her to accompany her for support.
The drive to June’s trailer was tense. Brittany’s usual warmth was replaced by a heavy, nervous silence. When they arrived around 10:30 PM, the property was dimly lit, the headlights of Brittany’s van cutting through the darkness. Near an above-ground pool, a small group lingered, surrounded by beer cans and empty bottles.
Brittany approached the trailer while Heather waited in the van. June opened the door, holding their infant daughter, while Brittany’s young son followed behind. At first, everything seemed calm. Brittany Steier secured her daughter into the car seat, moving with careful urgency.
Then, without warning, chaos erupted.
June produced a firearm and opened fire.
Heather, reacting instinctively, dove into the driver’s seat. With the van door still open and the children screaming in the back, she threw the vehicle into reverse and sped away down the dirt road. Shaking and frantic, she pulled over moments later and dialed 911, struggling to explain the horror they had just fled—that Brittany Steier had been shot, that the children were with her, that they needed help immediately.
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The Manhunt and Arrest
Meanwhile, June fled the scene. Police quickly spotted his green vehicle and a high-speed pursuit began. June’s driving was erratic—looping through parking lots, making abrupt turns, seeming lost and desperate. Eventually, he pulled over near Spring Creek Highway, where officers swiftly arrested him without resistance.
Back at the trailer, investigators made a heartbreaking discovery. Brittany’s body lay near the door, a fatal gunshot wound to her head. Beside her, a baby bottle lay in the dirt—a haunting symbol of the two small lives she had left behind.
The news shattered Brittany’s family and rocked the community to its core. It was impossible to reconcile the bright, loving young woman they had cherished with the brutal and senseless violence that took her away. Brittany’s life, filled with so much compassion and hope, had ended in the most unimaginable way.
In the aftermath of Brittany Steier’s tragic death, investigators began piecing together the events leading up to that night. What they uncovered painted an even more chilling picture. Earlier in the evening, June Harris had sent Brittany Steier a barrage of aggressive text messages. He demanded sex as a “reward” for watching their children during the bridal shower. When Brittany didn’t respond to his demands, his texts grew increasingly hostile—a clear escalation of anger that foreshadowed the deadly violence to come.
Facing Justice
June Harris faced a slew of charges: first-degree murder, child neglect, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His trial opened on December 16, 2022, more than two years after Brittany’s murder. Despite the defense team’s attempts to sow doubt, the evidence was overwhelming. Text messages, witness testimony, surveillance footage, and forensic findings left no room for alternate explanations.
On December 21, 2022, after days of testimony and deliberation, the jury reached its decision. June Harris was found guilty on all counts. The court sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, along with three additional 15-year sentences to be served consecutively for the related charges.
For Brittany’s grieving family, the verdict offered a measure of closure, a formal acknowledgment of the injustice they had suffered. But no sentence could erase the loss. Brittany’s two young children were left to grow up without their mother, and her family was left to carry the deep scars of her absence.
Brittany’s story serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the silent struggles many victims of domestic violence endure—and the fatal consequences when their fears are minimized or ignored. Her life, defined by love, resilience, and hope, stands in stark contrast to the cruelty that ended it.
