Suvechha Sarkar
Brad Dennis McGarry was an openly gay man known for his generosity and vibrant spirit among his friends and loved ones. What began as an ordinary day for him in May 2017 quickly turned into a nightmare when he was murdered in his home in Bellaire, Ohio. His sudden demise not only left everyone in despair but also raised some chilling questions. Investigation Discovery’s ‘The Murder Tapes: Scene of the Crime’ delves deep into the investigation of this case; through witness accounts and critical evidence, the episode uncovers how a secret affair unraveled into betrayal and murder.
Brad McGarry Was a Hairdresser Turned Coal Miner Who Lived Life on His Terms
Brad Dennis McGarry was born on October 24, 1973, in Cambridge, Ohio, and fulfilled the lives of his father and mother, Tralis Irene McGarry. He was the beloved grandson of his grandparents – Deloris and John Henry McGarry. His friendly and warmhearted nature made him a favorite among family and friends. While growing up in Lewisville, Ohio, Brad had to face a difficult childhood due to harsh comments for being an openly gay man. However, he did not let this deter him from embracing his identity, and eventually, he found his own people who never questioned him for being himself. Brad’s flair for creativity led him to pursue a degree in Cosmetology at the Swiss Hills Vocational School. With a pair of scissors in hand and a smile on his face, he earned a reputation as a talented hairdresser in the Ohio Valley.
However, Brad’s zeal to prove that he could indulge in rough work just like any other conservative individual directed him to his career as a coal miner for Murry Energy. Above all, Brad was a man of faith, which is evident since he was a member of the Free Methodist Church of Woodsfield, Ohio. Everything was going smoothly, and Brad was excited about his upcoming vacation with his best friend, David Kinney, and his family. However, his life reached an abrupt halt on May 7, 2017. David and his wife, Cheri, had arrived at his home to visit him, along with their daughter. When the couple found the front door closed and no answer from Brad, they asked their daughter to go through the back door.
The family soon discovered that the back door was open and noticed that the house was in a mess. When David headed to the basement to look for Brad, he was met with a shocking sight — the 43-year-old was lying dead on the ground. David quickly asked Cheri to call 911. When the officials arrived on the scene, they found Brad with gunshot wounds to the head, with no sign of the weapon. However, they found the house completely cluttered, with drawers and cupboards open. The autopsy revealed the cause of Brad’s death to be the two gunshot wounds from a .22 caliber handgun to the back of the head. With key witnesses on the scene, the detectives quickly launched an investigation to determine the killer.
A Secret Relationship Became the Cause of Brad McGarry’s Untimely Death
When the officials found that Brad’s home was completely ransacked, they had reportedly presumed that it was a case of a robbery gone wrong. However, they reportedly felt the scene was staged since several valuables like cash, new smartphones, and other items were still present in the house. Investigators then questioned David, who reportedly informed the police that Brad was in a relationship with a man named Scotty and that they had broken up. Upon further interrogating Brad’s close friends, they found his full name was Scotty Butler. However, he was ruled out as a suspect because he was already in prison and had no idea about the murder. Two days after the killing of the 43-year-old, another shooting transpired a few miles away from his home.
Although detectives initially presumed the shooting to be connected to Brad’s murder, the investigation revealed that was not the case. The biggest breakthrough finally came when one of the close friends of Brad reportedly informed the police about his on-and-off boyfriend, “DJ.” They discovered that DJ was a married man whose wife was unaware of the affair. To their shock, it turned out to be none other than David Kinney, who was actually present when the police first discovered Brad’s remains. He was brought in for questioning, and after checking the contents of his phone, it was confirmed that he was in a relationship with Brad.
Additionally, David’s GPS location was determined to be at Brad’s residence when the murder occurred. Surveillance footage obtained from Brad’s neighbor showed that David had arrived at the location in his wife’s car around the time of the incident and had left shortly after. Despite his initial denial, he confessed that Brad allegedly wanted him to leave his wife. David alleged he wanted to end the relationship on the day of the murder, which he claimed didn’t bode well with Brad. The latter, David further alleged, threatened to expose their relationship and grabbed a pistol. He claimed that he then took the gun away from Brad’s hand and shot him at the top of his head. Ultimately, David was arrested and charged with aggravated murder with a firearm specification on May 9, 2017.
David Kinney is Serving His Sentence in an Ohio Prison Today
David Kinney’s trial for the murder of Brad McGarry commenced on January 29, 2018. The prosecution argued that David had pre-meditated the murder to prevent Brad from disclosing their romantic relationship before his wife. They also pointed out the inconsistencies in his statements and multiple attempts to stage the crime scene in order to mislead the investigators. On the other hand, the defense acknowledged that he shot Brad but claimed that it was in self-defense during a struggle that Brad had initiated. They also emphasized David’s lack of prior criminal record and presented witnesses to prove his integrity.
Apart from this, the defense questioned the forensic evidence, which was presented in alignment with the prosecution’s account. Ultimately, after an eight-day trial, the jury found David guilty of aggravated murder with a firearm specification on February 6, 2018. Before the sentencing, he apologized to Brad’s family and loved ones, saying, “I would like to apologize to the McGarry family for all the hurt and pain that I put you through. I never meant for any of this to happen, and I wish I could take it all back. I know all the apologies in the world could never bring him back, but I want you to know I truly am sorry.”
On February 14, 2018, the then-31-year-old was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the aggravated murder of Brad McGarry and an additional three years for the firearm specification. A year later, in April 2019, he reportedly appealed his conviction, claiming there were procedural errors, and also challenged the interpretation of the evidence about the murder being premeditated. However, the Seventh Appellate District Court upheld the original decision in June 2019. As of writing, David Kinney is serving his life sentence at the Noble Correctional Institution, located in Noble County in Caldwell, Ohio.
