Content warning: This article mentions intimate partner violence. Please take care while reading.
Christopher James Brayton, a De Soto, Missouri, man, is facing multiple domestic assault charges after he allegedly violated an order of protection and attacked his ex.
He reportedly told her, “I’m home” while lying in bed next to her, and then proceeded with the assault. It was just one of two incidents that same month, and the third incident involving Brayton this year.
According to probable cause affidavits obtained by Law&Crime, authorities charged Brayton, 31, on November 9, 2025, with third-degree domestic assault, a felony, and fourth-degree domestic assault, a misdemeanor. News spread of Brayton’s charges after his December court appearance.
Those charges stem from the two incidents, including the bedroom attack, reported in mid-October, just months after Brayton was charged in a separate domestic assault case involving the same woman.
The first October attack
According to the affidavits, deputies were called to the 3600 block of Upper Plattin Road on October 14 after the woman reported that Brayton, her ex, tried to force her into a vehicle during an argument outside the home they shared. When she refused, Brayton allegedly tripped her and, as she attempted to get up, threw her down again. He then allegedly choked her and threatened to kill her before deputies arrived.
The woman obtained a full order of protection the following day. The order barred Brayton from contacting her or entering the residence and was set to remain in effect until October 2026.
The October home invasion
Despite the order, Brayton allegedly entered the home without permission on October 16, 2025, around 8 a.m., and climbed into her bed, telling her, “I’m home.”
Allegedly, Brayton then hid her phone, prevented her from leaving, and assaulted her by pushing, hitting, and throwing her to the ground, according to the probable cause statement. She eventually escaped and contacted law enforcement from a nearby gas station.
The June incident
According to the Missouri news outlet Leader Publications, court filings show the October incidents were not the first allegations of violence. According to a June probable cause statement, the woman reported that Brayton woke up in a “manic mood,” punched her, and threw her into a closet during an altercation in the same house on June 17, 2025.
Brayton told deputies he pushed her only because she was “crowding him” and would not allow him to take his bipolar medication. Both had visible scratches on their faces and necks, but declined medical attention.
Brayton was charged in July with two counts of third-degree domestic assault in connection with that June incident. Leader Publications reports Missouri authorities arrested Brayton in November in connection with the October assaults. According to Law & Crime, Brayton is out on bond. He will appear in court again on January 5, 2026.
National Domestic Violence Hotline offers confidential support 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 or through their website at thehotline.org.
