Where is David Kinney Now? Details explored ahead of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered on Oxygen

David Kinney, the man responsible for the murder of his best friend Brad McGarry in 2017, is currently serving a life sentence at Belmont Correctional Institution in eastern Ohio. Kinney, known as inmate A741966, was admitted on February 16, 2018, and is facing life without the possibility of parole, along with an additional three-year firearm specification.

The tragic events unfolded during an eight-day trial in Belmont County, where jurors found Kinney guilty of luring Brad McGarry to the miner’s basement, shooting him twice in the back of the head, and then staging a burglary to cover up their secret affair. Judge Frank Fregiato, noting the calculated nature of the crime, ruled out any chance of release for Kinney in the future.

The case is revisited in an episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered titled Dangerous Secret, set to air on Oxygen on Wednesday, June 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The episode delves into how investigators utilized phone data, surveillance footage, and Kinney’s inconsistent statements to transition him from a grieving witness to a convicted murderer.

Deputies discovered Brad McGarry’s lifeless body in his Bellaire, Ohio basement on May 7, 2017, with two gunshot wounds to the back of his head. Despite the scattered furniture, the untouched valuables, including McGarry’s own 9mm pistol, quickly dispelled any robbery motive, leading detectives to suspect foul play.

Detective Ryan Allar expressed shock at the staged crime scene, believing it was orchestrated to mislead investigators. It was revealed that McGarry had arranged to meet his long-time friend and secret lover, David Kinney, on the day of the murder. Phone records and surveillance footage placed Kinney at the scene before and after the killing, ultimately leading to his arrest.

During interrogation, Kinney provided conflicting accounts of the events before finally admitting to pulling the trigger, claiming it was an act of self-defense. However, ballistic evidence proved otherwise, as both shots entered McGarry’s head from behind, debunking Kinney’s self-defense narrative and resulting in murder charges.

Prosecutors argued that McGarry wanted to make their affair public, while Kinney was desperate to protect his marriage and reputation. Text messages and witness testimonies corroborated their romantic involvement, with friends attesting to Kinney’s familial relationship with McGarry.

The trial in February 2018 unveiled a timeline of events, with Kinney luring McGarry to the basement, shooting him, staging a break-in, and using his family to discover the body. Forensic experts confirmed the absence of defensive wounds on either party, solidifying the premeditated nature of the murder.

Judge Fregiato, describing Kinney as a "cold, calculated assassin," handed down a sentence of life without parole, along with a mandatory three-year firearm specification. Kinney’s incarceration at Belmont Correctional Institution commenced on February 16, 2018, with no possibility of release according to prison records.

The tragic saga of Brad McGarry’s murder at the hands of his best friend continues to captivate audiences, shedding light on the devastating consequences of secrets and betrayal. The episode Dangerous Secret on Dateline: Secrets Uncovered offers a poignant reflection on the events that led to this harrowing tragedy.