Kentucky Man Accused Of Killing Partner Had To-do List To Cover It Up, Police Say

A Kentucky man accused of fatally shooting his partner and leaving nan assemblage successful his location allegedly had a checklist of tasks he needed to complete aft nan killing, authorities said.

Daniel A. Kearney, 39, was arrested connected Sept. 11 successful relationship pinch nan decease of Damian Poole, who was reported missing connected Tuesday by his mother. His remains were recovered connected Thursday evening astatine a McCreary County home.

Kearney was charged pinch murder, maltreatment of corpse, tampering pinch beingness grounds and cruelty to animals, Kentucky State Police said successful a news release. It's not clear if he has obtained an attorney.

While investigating Poole’s disappearance, officers obtained a hunt warrant for his residence. Poole was recovered bound astatine his ankles by a portion of nylon statement and had been covered pinch respective blankets successful a backmost room, according to an apprehension citation for Kearney.

Damian Poole.McCreary County Sheriff’s Office / via Facebook

Authorities said Poole, 36, sustained aggregate gunshot wounds. Two of his dogs were besides recovered dormant successful nan home, nan citation states.

Investigators said that Poole’s remains were decomposed and that nan assemblage had been successful nan location "for an extended play of time." Also recovered successful nan location was a heap of sheets, cardboard, and different items containing what appeared to beryllium blood, arsenic good arsenic a suitcase pinch an AR-style firearm that authorities opportunity belonged to Poole.

Other firearms were recovered successful a camper wherever Kearney lived, according to nan citation. Investigators besides located a notebook "containing a checklist of things he had to do," nan citation says.

"When reference this checklist, it was evident it was a checklist to cleanable up nan residence, get free of evidence, overgarment everything … and dispose of nan body," nan citation states. "The notes moreover elaborate burning everything near that could beryllium burnt and spreading nan ashes connected nan roadways, but not successful Kentucky. This notebook, on pinch each nan firearms and electronics, were seized."

A motive successful nan sidesplitting remains unclear. Neighbors told authorities that nan brace would often person "very large and heated arguments." The citation states that neighbors besides allegedly told constabulary that they heard gunshots during an statement respective weeks ago.

One witnesser said that Kearney was allegedly known to beryllium "very fierce and violent." The witnesser said that they had asked wherever Poole was, and Kearney allegedly said that Poole had near to spell return attraction of thing but ne'er came back, nan citation states.

Kearney allegedly suggested to nan witnesser that Poole could person traveled to Michigan.

Kearney is being held astatine nan Knox Detention Center. He is scheduled to beryllium arraigned connected Thursday.