Friends, Co-Workers Say Goodbye To Murdered Young Mother

TAMPA, FL – Even a downpour couldn’t prevent friends, family and co-workers from celebrating the life of a young mother known for her eagerness to brighten the day of those around her.

Friends of 23-year-old Brittany Collett gathered beneath a shelter at Ballast Point Park Monday night, Aug. 20, to hold a candlelight vigil and say goodbye to a woman whose life was cut short when she was reportedly beaten to death by her boyfriend during a visit to Detroit.

Collett, who lived in Clearwater and worked at Buffalo Wild Wings on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, was found dead Aug. 11 at a home in Detroit where she was visiting with her boyfriend, Tykese Keaton-Baldwin, 20.

Keaton-Baldwin, a former Plant High School linebacker, has been charged with her death.

Collett, the mother of a young son, Avery, had been dating Keaton-Baldwin for about nine months.

Those who knew her say they are still trying to come to grips with her sudden death allegedly at his hands.

“Anyone that knew Brittany knows that she could light up the world with her smile and personality,” said Vickie Risinger-Peterman. “…she was loved by so many.”

Collett’s cousin, Tricia Reed, has set up a Go Fund Me page on Collett's behalf.

"Any money raised from this will help with funeral costs as she didn’t have any life insurance and our family wasn’t prepared for this horrible event,” said Reed. “Also I would like to set up a fund to help care for her son, Avery.”

She said her cousin was always eager to help those around her in life. Now Reed hopes Collett can also help in death by bringing awareness to domestic violence.

“Please help us spread the word about domestic violence and how real it is,” she said.

Detroit Police have released few details about what led up to Keaton-Baldwin reportedly beating his girlfriend to death while vacationing in his hometown (see related story).

Officers were called to a Detroit home around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, and found Collett face down on the grass with blood around her head. She was taken by EMS to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy showed she died from blunt force trauma.

Keaton-Baldwin played linebacker for the Plant Panthers. He graduated in 2016. He remains in a Detroit jail. A probable-cause hearing is scheduled for Aug. 24 and a preliminary examination is set for Aug. 31.

Image via Tricia Reed

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