Woman Says She Wishes Her Convicted Killer Sister Received The Death Penalty

'I need to tell you your sister has shot your brother-in-law.'

After years of turmoil, one of Cynthia “Cindy” Blust’s worst nightmares became a reality. She received a call that her estranged sister, Camellia Brown, had shot and killed her ex-husband at a North Carolina park in front of their children. Evil Lives Here takes a closer look at the relationship between the two sisters and the events leading up to the murder. Start streaming the "My Sister Blamed Me" episode on Season 10 now on discovery+.

'Talking about Camy is very emotional, but I want to share the story that changed our entire family’s landscape.'

With three years between them, Cindy and Camellia shared a close relationship during their early years. During her interview with for Evil Lives Here, Cindy fondly recalled her younger sister smiling up at her as she read her bedtime stories. “The bond was developed very early on because I adored her.”

However, as the girls grew up things began to change. When Camellia was around 6-years-old Cindy began to notice how much joy her younger sister seemed to take in antagonizing her. Camille often flung biting insults and flew fits of rage, all directed at Cindy. She’d seek out secrets and wield them as leverage against her oldest sibling, ensuring that Cindy gave her whatever she wanted.

'As time went on, we noticed that Camy became more and more obsessed with revenge.'

By the ages of 14 and 11 their relationship had become strained. During one outburst, the girls were on the bus home from school when Cindy started teasing Camellia. Once they got home, Camellia threw a paring knife at her sister, which lodged in her wrist. She showed no remorse for the attack.

“It was frightening living with Camy because I never knew what would set her off.” During another incident, she pulled a hunting rifle on Cindy and their youngest sister, Sharon, demanding that they leave the room and locking them out of the house. The episode prompted their parents to take Camellia to a pediatrician, but it was dismissed as behavior typical of a middle child.

By the time Cindy and Camellia had reached their 20’s, their relationship had stabilized somewhat, despite the continued outbursts that endangered the lives and wellbeing of those around her.

'I know how much he loved her, I’m not sure it went the other way around.'

Camellia met Earl Thierry Brown at the department of revenue in Raleigh, North Carolina. While they had a volatile relationship, Cindy believed that there were moments of happiness. However, after 5 years of marriage, the couple filed for divorce, leading to a fierce custody battle over their two children. Thierry was awarded full custody and a protective order was put into place against Camellia. Later, Thierry confided in Cindy that he suspected his ex-wife had been breaking into his apartment and was stalking the family.

'I felt like my life was in jeopardy.'

Cindy soon soon began to suspect that her sister wanted revenge on her as well. Camellia blamed Cindy for the loss of her children, claiming she had paid off the judges and Thierry’s lawyers. “Camy had a seething rage that was directed towards me because she thought that I was directly responsible for her losing her children.”

Camellia’s behavior toward the two continued to escalate, ultimately leading Cindy to divulge to Thierry her concerns that Camellia might resort to extreme measures. One month later, Thierry was dead.

'He thought she would never do this in front of her children.'

On March 24 of 2006, Camellia asked her ex-husband to meet her at a park for pizza so that she could see her children. In spite of the restraining order, Thierry agreed. While the children stayed in the car, she asked him to step outside to talk privately and proceeded to shoot him in the stomach. While Thierry survived the initial shot and managed to call 911, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Camellia was sentenced to 16 to 20 years in prison nearly 7 years after the shooting. The guilty plea came after being deemed incompetent to stand trial and spending a considerable amount of in treatment at the Dorothea Dix State Mental hospital.

'I wish you could’ve believed I never meant any harm for you. Someday you’ll know the truth.'

Cindy went to visit her sister in jail shortly after the murder. Camellia once again accused her of taking away her children. Cindy said her final farewell, informing her sister that she wouldn’t be back. That was in 2008 and she has stayed true to that promise. “I feel like there is potential for Camy coming after me. But I’m not scared for Camy to be released from prison, because I’m prepared.” Camellia Brown will be eligible for release in 2024.