Kentucky man accused of murdering boyfriend, writing ‘to-do list’ after killing
A Kentucky man is facing multiple charges after police say he shot his boyfriend twice in the head, killed their two dogs, and then drafted a chilling checklist of tasks to cover up the crime.
Daniel A. Kearney has been charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and cruelty to animals in the second degree. Authorities allege he killed 30-year-old Damian Poole inside their shared home in the Stearns community of McCreary County.
The investigation began on September 9 when Poole’s mother reported him missing. Three days later, Kentucky State Police searched the property on Farm Ridge Road and discovered Poole’s body in a back room, covered with blankets. His ankles were bound with nylon rope, and he had been shot twice in the head.
Investigators also found the bodies of two dogs inside the residence, both shot and left where they had fallen. Police documented several bullet holes, pools of blood, and multiple firearms, including an AR-style rifle in a suitcase belonging to Poole.
During a search of a camper on the property, where Kearney was known to stay, officers uncovered a disturbing to-do list. According to court documents, the handwritten notes outlined plans to clean the house, remove evidence, paint over bloodstains, and dispose of the body. The checklist even detailed burning items and scattering ashes “on roadways, but not in Kentucky.”
Neighbors described Kearney as volatile and reported frequent loud arguments between the couple. Some recalled hearing shouting and even gunshots in the weeks before Poole’s body was discovered. Police believe Poole may have been dead “for an extended period of time” before authorities arrived.
The grisly case has stunned the rural McCreary County community, with investigators now piecing together what led to the killing. Kearney remains in custody as the legal process moves forward.
