Humble Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Teenager During Attempted Rape

A 62-year-old man from Humble was sentenced late Thursday to life in prison without parole for killing his girlfriend’s teenage daughter while attempting to rape her, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“This defendant was a predator with a gun, and his choice to hurt a young girl and take her life was senseless and horrific,” Ogg said. “He not only took a promising young woman’s life, his actions have destroyed a family.”

Van Henry Brisbon was convicted of capital murder by a Harris County jury for killing 16-year-old Lauren Juma at their home in Humble just after 1 a.m. on April 29, 2022.

Lauren, who was a student at Nimitz High School, was at home alone with Brisbon when she FaceTimed her mother and sister to tell them that Brisbon was acting “weird.”

Her mother, who was out of town for work, sent Lauren’s older sister to the house to pick up the teen. When the sister arrived, Brisbon was holding Lauren against her will with a gun.

Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office also arrived and heard gunshots coming from inside the house. Brisbon then came outside and was arrested. Lauren had been killed with a 9mm handgun that was found inside the house. Investigators also found evidence of Brisbon attempting to rape the teen.

During the nine-day trial, jurors listened to testimony and saw evidence about what happened that night and then convicted Brisbon of capital murder. He was automatically sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Assistant District Attorney Katie Warren, who is a division chief in the DA’s Office, prosecuted the case with ADA Gina Gilmore, a chief in the Trial Bureau.

“Our jury heard bodycam recordings of the victim’s screams, cries for help and then gunshots, which were not easy to listen to,” Warren said. “We are thankful to the jurors for their service and their verdict because they were able to do what needed to be done: They gave this victim and her family justice.”

Brisbon will never be eligible for parole or released from prison.