UPDATED: Bianca Devins’ Social Media Murder — What We Know So Far

Yesterday morning, 17-year-old Bianca Devins was murdered. The killing was broadcast over Discord – a social platform initially designed for programmers and the video gaming community. Parentology confirmed with Utica Police Department’s Lt. Bryan Coromato that the incident is not a hoax. Here’s what we know so far.

The Facts

The murder of 17-year-old Bianca Devins was first witnessed on the social media platform Discord and reported by one of its users. The murder occurred in Utica, New York on Sunday morning, July 14, around 7:20 a.m.

Brandon Andrew Clark, 21, of Bridgeport/Cicero, New York, is currently being charged with second-degree murder for Devins’ homicide.

“Our victim and our suspect used the Discord platform,” Coromato tells Parentology. “The suspect posted a picture of her, deceased. The photos you’re seeing of a young female with her throat cut are authenticated; those are the pictures posted on Discord.”

What Happened

According to Coromato, Clark posted Devins’ name and that she was a resident of Utica. “A person on that thread contacted us,” Coromato says. “We also got a call from a personal associate of the suspect in this case, that had had some sort of communication with [Clark]. His communication with [Clark] was concerning so he contacted us also.”

Clark then phoned police directly. “The suspect said he’d killed somebody and he was going to be next.”

After determining where the calls were originating, officers were dispatched to Clark’s and Devins’ location. “We were able to locate them on Post Street in Utica; a residential street that dead-ends into a park. It’s a wooded area,” Coromato says. “They’d pulled down there, [though] neither one of them lived there.”

This is where Devins’ murder occurred.

When police arrived, they saw Clark on the scene, a large, black-handled knife in hand and “…his upper body and head were laying on top of this tarp,” Coromato says. “There’s something under the tarp, which ends up being her [Devins].”

Per a statement released by the City of Utica, “The officer immediately noticed brown hair protruding from beneath the tarp and inquired as to where the injured female was.  The male advised him that the female was beneath the tarp, and proceeded to pull out a cell phone.  It was at this time that is believed that the male took self-photographs of himself laying across the deceased female.”

Clark then, “…starts to cut his own throat in an attempt to take his own life,” Coromato says. “As officers are approaching him, [Clark] takes out his [cell] phone and takes a picture.”

Then, Coromato says, “As they’re [police officers] giving him orders, he’s Snapchatting the scene to people on Snapchat.”

The police approached Clark, then a struggle over his weapon commenced. He was quickly disarmed and subdued. Clark was then taken to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. Despite severe injuries, Coromato says, “He’s going to survive.” 

The City of Utica’s statement delved into the relationship between Devins and Clark, determining, “… it was learned that the two had met on the social media platform Instagram approximately two months ago.  They utilized this as a means of communication primarily, and their relationship progressed into a personally intimate one.  They had spent time together, and were acquainted with each other’s families.”

As to what led up to the murder, it’s unclear. Coromato says, “We do know they attended a concert in New York City prior to this incident. We think something occurred at this concert that ultimately led to this happening.”

Devins’ family released the following statement:

We are very grateful for the outpouring of love and sympathy we have received from our Friends, Family, Bianca’s Friends and the whole community. Your prayers help to strengthen us through this difficult time. 

Bianca, age 17, was a talented artist, a loving sister, daughter, and cousin, and a wonderful young girl, taken from us all too soon. She is now looking down on us, as she joins her cat, Belle, in heaven. Bianca’s smile brightened our lives. She will always be remembered as our Princess.

Bianca graduated from T. R. Proctor High School this past June and was looking forward to attending MVCC in the fall.

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Bianca Devins Social Media Murder — Sources

Lt. Bryan Coromato, Utica Police Department
Official Release, City of Utica Department of Public Safety