Suspect in my dad’s murder begged to tell his story after anonymous tip blamed cops – I’m finally closer to the truth

A DAUGHTER’S relentless quest for the truth behind her father’s brutal murder may be on the brink of revealing the killer.

Madison McGhee was just six years old when her dad, John McGhee, was shot in the head at their home in Belmont County, Ohio , on July 11, 2002.

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Instagram / Madison McGhee

The 29-year-old – whose Ice Cold Case podcast chronicles her search for justice – was brought up thinking he died of a heart attack.

But as soon as she learned the horrific truth when she was 16, Madison embarked on a heroic, one-woman mission to unearth the truth.

SHADY PAST

John wasn’t an angel – he had a drug problem, was in and out of rehab, was a serial womanizer, and became embroiled in a series of child custody battles.

At one time, he was a dealer who became an informant, providing information that resulted in multiple arrests, including members of his own family.

Police probing the murder stated that John’s death appeared to be the outcome of a failed home invasion. However, there were concerns that his previous misdemeanors may have played a role.

When Madison, a California-based TV producer, first spoke to The U.S. Sun last September, she claimed family members were acting suspiciously, adding another curious element to an already baffling case.

Yet fast-forward nine months, and more pieces of a very complex, mysterious puzzle are beginning to fall into place.

Madison told The U.S. Sun at CrimeCon in Nashville this summer about an anonymous tipster who contacted her late in 2023 with information that could heavily implicate local cops.

FRESH DEVELOPMENTS

And last night, she claimed to finally know the names of the four men who were seen breaking into neighbor Omar’s house next door just 30 minutes before John was murdered.

Those details have been passed on to cops, and she’s patiently waiting to hear back.

“I had planned to take a two-month break to regroup before working on the next part,” Madison told The U.S. Sun. “But after receiving that tip, I dove right back into the investigation.”

Madison says the information gleaned from the tipster was “pretty incriminating” for the authorities.

She insists the person was “convinced that the way events unfolded that morning indicated police involvement.”

“Going to the police wasn’t an option since they were potential suspects,” she continued.

MYSTERIOUS CALL

The unnamed source had seen a story about the killing on the local news and contacted the TV station, which in turn reached out to Madison.

She was told the cop car, a black four-door sedan, which had been seen outside the house for several weeks before John’s shooting, was facing a dead-end street during a shift change.

Madison believes that could indicate that cops were turning a blind eye to events that were about to violently transpire.

“Maybe his death benefited them in some way,” she added. “The perpetrators knew they’d get away with it.”

I’m determined to keep going until I find the truth.

Madison McGhee

Over the years, various people have come forward about alleged similar issues with the Belmont County police force, particularly the late Sheriff Tom McCourt.

“I had always thought there was something off about how the police handled things—but this tip added to my suspicions,” Madison admitted. “Then, I started hearing from others about the corruption of a particular sheriff, which only fueled my concerns.

“There were rumors about him being a shady character, and everything started to add up. This hypothesis started to solidify into a theory, which I felt compelled to explore further.”

COP WORRIES

A few weeks after receiving the fresh intel, further progress was made.

One of the suspects, Daryl Smith, who had a grand jury trial in 2003 but saw charges dropped after Omar changed his story in court, surprisingly got in touch.

He had heard Madison’s enthralling podcast series – which returned for a second season this summer – and wanted to set some records straight.

The police might have benefited from my dad being killed.

Madison McGhee

Smith had just won an appeal after being sentenced to seven years in prison for a drug charge that he claims the police set him up for.

He was released in 2023 after serving two years, and sowed yet more seeds doubts into Madison’s mind about the integrity of the investigation into her father’s death.

“He says it benefited them for him to be seen as responsible for my dad’s murder,” she said of the conversation with Smith. “That aligns with my theory that the police might have benefited from my dad being killed.”

Madison says the Belmont Police Department has been lacking in assistance, and she is unable to fund a high-powered legal team to help.

“They have had plenty of opportunities to set the record straight,” she said, the despair in her voice unquestionable.

More cold cases

• 30 years after a teen was found dead near a fishing site, police finally identified the killer using DNA evidence, but the murderer won’t be going to trial
• A 15-year-old girl went missing in September 2023 after she left to meet her boyfriend. Police had no leads on the case but found DNA evidence in August 2024 that brought them one step closer to finding out what happened to the missing girl
• The body of a missing college student was found in July, after the student mysteriously vanished in March
• Police are still searching for the murderer of 20-year-old Janet Murgatroyd, who was found beaten to death after walking home from a pub
• A woman has been missing for 27 years after disappearing on a cruise ship. Now, her family is offering a major reward for anyone with information on her vanishment as her 50th birthday approaches
• A 21-year-old nursing student vanished without a trace 20 years ago, only 15 minutes after crashing her car. Police believed the woman killed herself, but her sister believes something more sinister is at play

DESPERATE FOR HELP

Madison stresses that she’s not accusing officers of pulling the trigger.

But their reaction in the aftermath of the grizzly crime – which was described by officials at the time as a home invasion gone badly wrong – has raised suspicions.

“When the police found out, they seemed indifferent,” she said. “That indifference is troubling.

“If they know something and aren’t acting, that’s a problem. The fact that the case remains unsolved benefits certain people.”

The mystery deepens with the more investigative work completed.

Madison says some days, she feels like she’s back at square one, unsure if progress is being made, while others are filled with far more hope.

One thing, however, is clear,

“I’m determined to keep going until I find the truth,” she said.

“I’m more motivated than ever.”

The U.S. Sun contacted the Belmont Police Department, but didn’t hear back.

Instagram / Madison McGhee