Sword and Scale – Episode 328 Summary

Release Date: November 17, 2025
Host/Narrator: Sword and Scale

Episode Overview

In this harrowing episode, Sword and Scale delves into the brutal murder of Brad McGarry, a beloved and well-connected coal miner from Bel Air, Ohio, killed in his own basement in May 2017. The crime not only shocked the tight-knit community but also laid bare a tangled web of secrets, betrayal, hidden relationships, and small-town gossip. Through raw, uncensored 911 calls, police interviews, and expert narration, the episode traces the investigation’s path—from initial confusion to the emotional unraveling of Brad’s closest friend, David Kinney, who would ultimately be convicted of aggravated murder.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Stage: The Discovery of Brad’s Body

• [01:30-03:20] Bel Air is introduced as a fading coal town with rare homicides, making Brad’s murder particularly shocking.
• The Kinney family (David, his wife Sherry, and their daughter) visit Brad’s home with a gift, only to find his door ajar and signs of a struggle inside.
• 911 Call [07:10-13:16]: Sherry’s frantic call captures the chaos and horror of discovering Brad’s body, relayed in real time as police and medical responders are dispatched.

Investigating the Victim

• [15:44-17:15] Detective Ryan Aller recalls Brad as universally liked, outgoing, and loving—“nobody I talked to, not a single soul had a single bad thing to say about him” (Aller, 16:01).
• Initial leads are followed, including a suspicious Craigslist connection and veiled threats from Brad’s troubled ex, Scotty—both quickly ruled out.

The Kinney Family and Brad: Unraveling Relationships

• [19:25-23:54] David Kinney, Brad’s “best friend” and family confidant, is interviewed. David’s recounting of the days prior to the murder is detailed, but inconsistencies emerge regarding his whereabouts and the family’s connection to Brad.

Notable Quote

"He got real close with our families...we did holidays and gatherings and everything together."
—David Kinney ([26:34])

Hidden Depths: The Secret Affair

• [28:11-31:04] Pressure builds as detectives confront David with evidence of an ongoing sexual relationship between him and Brad.

• David tries to minimize the relationship:
  “We never had sex. We would just fool around with each other.”
  —David Kinney ([30:50])

• The text messages and explicit content on David’s phone prove a much deeper, secret connection.

Shifting Stories & Police Interrogation

• [33:14-47:31] Over several grilling interrogations, David cycles through an array of ever-changing stories:
  • He claims Brad had other lovers.
  • He suggests a mysterious third man was present and may have killed Brad.
  • Detectives press David, pointing out flaws (like CCTV footage, lack of evidence for his versions, and the closeness between him and Brad).

Memorable Moment

"You were there when he was killed?"
"No, sir, I was not at his house when that man was murdered."
—Detective/ Kinney, ([39:33])

• Detective Aller and his team realize David’s shifting tales are attempts to hide guilt and protect both himself and his marriage.

The Truth Emerges: Motive & Confession

• [48:12-62:27] Under mounting pressure and evidence, David finally offers a confession—though attempts to justify the killing as self-defense, claiming Brad threatened him with a gun after a heated “breakup” argument.
• Detectives debunk this, pointing out David’s physical advantage and evidence Brad was shot twice in the back of the head with no signs of struggle.

Notable Quote

"He told me, he said, if you end all of this now, then I'm done with you forever...That's when he said: you need to leave your wife. You need to leave your wife."
—David Kinney, ([58:09])

• The narrative concludes that David, unable to face a public outing or the collapse of his double life, executed Brad in cold blood.

Money: The Unspoken Motive

• [55:05-55:52] Discusses Brad’s financial support of the Kinney family—vacations, gifts, birthday parties—raising questions about whether money played a role alongside jealousy and fear.

Detective Aller:

"He paid for a lot of things for the Kinney’s...you're going on a cruise with your wife and your lover at the same time. That made us kind of wonder about Sherry, you know, did she know this was going on?"
—([55:52])

Aftermath: Conviction & Legacy

• [63:37-68:33] David Kinney is found guilty of aggravated murder and sentenced to life without parole; his wife was cleared of involvement but ultimately moved on.
• The episode closes reflecting on the deeper tragedy—trust destroyed not only between lovers but across the entire family and community; the ripple of secrets and lies.

Notable Quote

"I think there's a little bit of a monster in everybody… it's the fact that you gotta… tame your own monster, you know, and you get to that point, you can either be a decent human being or you let the monster win. In this case, David Kenney let the monster win."
—Detective Ryan Aller ([67:52])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment / Content | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:30 | Introduction to Bel Air, Brad, and David’s background | | 07:10 | 911 call: The Kinneys discover Brad’s body | | 15:44 | Detective Aller on Brad’s character | | 19:25 | Recap of time spent with Brad before the murder | | 23:58 | Discussion of Brad’s relationships, introduction of Richie and Scotty | | 28:11 | Kinney confronted with evidence of a sexual relationship | | 33:14 | Detailed timeline—David’s shifting stories | | 41:18 | Detective presses on for confession, discusses possible accident | | 48:12 | David’s semi-confession: “I did not shoot him” | | 55:05 | Exploration of Brad financially supporting the Kinney family | | 55:52 | Detective Aller discusses suspicions of Sherry’s knowledge | | 58:09 | Brad confronts David; the real motive emerges | | 63:37 | The trial, deliberation on aggravated murder | | 64:51 | Revelation: Brad was shot twice, execution style; self-defense dismissed | | 67:52 | Detective Aller’s thoughts on the “monster” in everyone | | 68:33 | Aftermath: David’s sentencing, Sherry’s later life |

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Nobody I talked to, not a single soul had a single bad thing to say about him."
  —Detective Ryan Aller, [16:01]

• "We never had sex. We would just fool around with each other."
  —David Kinney, [30:50]

• "Brad was part of the family and he was David's best friend. The numbness was wearing off for David now. And the realization was setting in that Brad was gone forever."
  —Narrator, [26:56]

• "You were there when he was killed?"
  —Detective, [39:33]

• "You love this man and there's no shame in it. You understand? There ain't no shame in loving somebody, no matter what color they are, they got a dick or three pussies, it doesn't matter."
  —Detective, [47:44]

• "It was just so ridiculous that no one bought it... the evidence won the day and he was convicted on everything we charged him with."
  —Detective Ryan Aller, [63:37]

Episode Takeaways

• The episode is a powerful exposé of secrecy, internalized shame, and the devastating fallout of double lives—especially in tight-knit, conservative environments.
• It portrays not just a murder mystery, but a tragic human drama, with themes of love, denial, manipulation, and betrayal cutting across every relationship in the story.
• The investigation’s unyielding pursuit of the truth, counterpointed by David’s repeated lies, reveals the painstaking work detectives must do to uncover reality in the face of deceit.

For listeners interested in true-crime stories where the line between victim and perpetrator is blurred by hidden love and fractured identity, this episode delivers a gripping, tragic, and thought-provoking journey into the heart of small-town darkness.