John Cornelius McGhee

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Belmont County Sheriffs Office (OH)

Offense Location:

Bridgeport, Ohio

Summary:

John Cornelius "JC" McGhee was shot and killed in the doorway of his home in Bridgeport, Ohio.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

The murder occurred shortly after 6am on July 11, 2002, between two neighboring houses in Bridgeport, Ohio. McGhee lived in one of those houses and was there with his elder daughter, Alyssa, who was sleeping at the time. Next door lived JC's sister Pearl. Her son Omar had been there that morning with his girlfriend Kim. After the event, Pearl, Omar and Kim told deputies a group of around four men dressed in black arrived at Pearl's house in at least three cars and armed with shotguns and pistols before bursting into her home and demanding drugs or money. The house was ransacked, Pearl and Kim were tied up with a telephone cord, covered in blankets and the men doused them in alcohol before threatening to set them alight. According to reports, Omar was able to escape and fled to a nearby auto shop. It was at point that at least one of the men moved next door to JC's house and fatally shot him in the head in the doorway. JC's daughter Alyssa told deputies she was woken up at the time by the sound of a gunshot. Alyssa then found her father bloody in the doorway of the house and called 911.

Additional Details:

JC was a former drug dealer turned confidential informant for local law enforcement. JC and his ex-girlfriend, Daneen Schrader, had a child together. Daneen's new boyfriend at the time was Butchy. According to sheriff's office's documents, JC had been involved in Butchy's recent indictment as an informant. JC was due in court the day after he was murdered for a custody hearing regarding his and Daneen's son. A man named Daryl Smith was thought to be present during the murder based on photo lineups presented to Pearl, Omar, and Kim.

Case Last Updated:

Oct 17, 2024