The suspect in my father's murder case pleaded to tell his story after an anonymous tip accused police – I'm finally closer to the truth

A daughter's tireless search for the truth behind her father's brutal murder may be on the verge of unmasking the killer.

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

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The 29-year-old, whose podcast “Ice Cold Case” documents her search for justice, grew up believing he died of a heart attack.

But when she learned the horrific truth at 16, Madison embarked on a heroic one-woman mission to uncover the truth.

Dark past

John was no angel – he had a drug problem, was in and out of rehab, was a notorious womanizer, and was involved in a number of custody battles.

He was once a dealer and then became an informant. His information led to the arrest of several people, including his own family.

Police investigating the murder said John's death appeared to be the result of a botched burglary, but there were fears his previous offenses may have played a role.

When Madison, a California-based television producer, first spoke to The US Sun last September, she claimed family members had been behaving suspiciously, adding another strange element to an already puzzling case.

But nine months later, more pieces of an extremely complex and mysterious puzzle are coming together.

Madison told The US Sun this summer at CrimeCon in Nashville about an anonymous informant who contacted her in late 2023 with information that could seriously incriminate local police.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

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

These details have been passed on to the police and they are patiently waiting for a response.

“I had planned to take a two-month break to refocus before working on the next installment,” Madison told The US Sun. “But after I got that tip, I jumped right back into the investigation.”

Madison says the information obtained from the informant was “quite incriminating” for authorities.

She insists that the person “was convinced that the course of events that morning indicated police involvement.”

“Going to the police was not an option as these were potential suspects,” she continued.

MYSTERIOUS CALL

The unnamed source had seen a report about the murder on the local news and contacted the television station, which in turn contacted Madison.

She was told that the police car, a black four-door sedan that had been seen outside the house several weeks before John was shot, had been parked in a dead-end street during a shift change.

Madison believes this could be an indication that police ignored events that were on the verge of violence.

“Perhaps his death helped them in some way,” she added. “The perpetrators knew they would get away with it.”

I am determined to keep going until I find the truth.

Madison McGhee

Over the years, several people have spoken out about similar incidents involving the Belmont County Police Department, most notably the late Sheriff Tom McCourt.

“I always thought there was something wrong with the way the police were handling things – but this tip-off only heightened my suspicions,” Madison admitted. “Then I heard from others about the corruption of a certain sheriff, which only heightened my concerns.”

“There were rumors that he was a shady character, and it all started to make sense. This hypothesis solidified into a theory that I was keen to investigate further.”

POLICE CONCERNS

A few weeks after receiving the new information, further progress was made.

One of the suspects, Daryl Smith, who was tried by a jury in 2003 but had the charges dropped after Omar changed his testimony in court, surprisingly came forward.

He had been listening to Madison's engaging podcast series – the second season of which aired this summer – and wanted to clear some things up.

Killing my father may have been an advantage for the police.

Madison McGhee

Smith had just won an appeal after serving seven years in prison for a drug offense that he said police had framed him for.

He was released in 2023 after serving a two-year prison sentence, sowing further doubts in Madison about the integrity of the investigation into her father's death.

“He says it helped them that he was considered responsible for my father's murder,” she said of the conversation with Smith. “That fits with my theory that the police may have profited from my father's death.”

Madison says she lacks support from the Belmont Police Department and is unable to fund a high-profile legal team to help her.

“You’ve had plenty of opportunities to set the record straight,” she said, and the desperation in his voice was unmistakable.

DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR HELP

Madison stresses that she does not blame the officers for pulling the trigger.

But their reaction following the gruesome crime – which authorities described at the time as a botched burglary – aroused suspicion.

“When the police found out about this, they seemed indifferent,” she said. “This indifference is disturbing.”

“If they know something and don't act, that's a problem. The fact that the case remains unsolved benefits certain people.”

The mystery grows as the investigation progresses.

Madison says some days she feels like she's back to square one and isn't sure if she's making progress, while other days she feels much more hopeful.

However, one thing is clear:

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

“I am more motivated than ever.”

The US Sun contacted Belmont police but received no response.

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