A Kentucky man accused of fatally shooting his partner and leaving the body in his home allegedly had a checklist of tasks he needed to complete after the killing, authorities said.
Daniel A. Kearney, 39, was arrested on Sept. 11 in connection with the death of Damian Poole, who was reported missing on Tuesday by his mother. His remains were found on Thursday evening at a McCreary County home.
Kearney was charged with murder, abuse of corpse, tampering with physical evidence and cruelty to animals, Kentucky State Police said in a news release. It’s not clear if he has obtained an attorney.
While investigating Poole’s disappearance, officers obtained a search warrant for his residence. Poole was found bound at his ankles by a piece of nylon rope and had been covered with several blankets in a back room, according to an arrest citation for Kearney.
Authorities said Poole, 36, sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Two of his dogs were also found dead in the home, the citation states.
Investigators said that Poole’s remains were decomposed and that the body had been in the home “for an extended period of time.” Also found in the home was a pile of sheets, cardboard, and other items containing what appeared to be blood, as well as a suitcase with an AR-style rifle that authorities say belonged to Poole.
Other firearms were found in a camper where Kearney lived, according to the citation. Investigators also located a notebook “containing a checklist of things he had to do,” the citation says.
“When reading this checklist, it was apparent it was a checklist to clean up the residence, get rid of evidence, paint everything … and dispose of the body,” the citation states. “The notes even detailed burning everything left that could be burnt and spreading the ashes on the roadways, but not in Kentucky. This notebook, along with all the firearms and electronics, were seized.”
A motive in the killing remains unclear. Neighbors told authorities that the pair would often have “very loud and heated arguments.” The citation states that neighbors also allegedly told police that they heard gunshots during an argument several weeks ago.
One witness said that Kearney was allegedly known to be “very aggressive and violent.” The witness said that they had asked where Poole was, and Kearney allegedly said that Poole had left to go take care of something but never came back, the citation states.
Kearney allegedly suggested to the witness that Poole could have traveled to Michigan.
Kearney is being held at the Knox Detention Center. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.
