True crime podcaster makes an attempt to resolve father’s homicide

Harris Marley

International Courant

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Madison McGhee all the time believed that her father died from a coronary heart assault – however that every one modified in 2012.

The Charleston, Virginia, native, who was 16 on the time, was visiting her household at her grandmother’s home. She all of a sudden had an odd feeling that she couldn’t breathe. The patriarch was on her thoughts.

“I keep in mind after saying goodbye, I received within the automobile and requested my mother a really bizarre query,” McGhee recalled to Fox Information Digital. “I wasn’t even positive I understood what I used to be asking on the time. I requested her if my cousin Omar was with my dad when he died, considering that he had died of a coronary heart assault.”

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Madison McGhee is decided to resolve her father’s homicide and has launched a true-crime podcast, “Ice Chilly Case.” (Courtesy of Madison McGhee)

“That’s when my mother advised me the reality,” stated McGhee. “The reality was my dad was murdered, and it’s nonetheless unsolved.”

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McGhee, who now resides in Los Angeles, is on a quest to search out out what occurred to her father. She’s the host of the true-crime podcast, “Ice Chilly Case,” the place she interviews those that might lead her to solutions.

“For 10 years, my dad in my thoughts had died of a coronary heart assault,” stated McGhee. “However to then discover out he died a totally totally different manner? I needed to begin the method fully over. I needed to grieve him another time. I’ve needed to grapple with the reality of what occurred to him.”

For years, Madison McGhee thought her father, J.C., died from a coronary heart assault. (Courtesy of Madison McGhee)

On July 11, 2002, John Cornelius McGhee, also called “J.C.,” was shot within the head within the doorway of his dwelling in Belmont County, Ohio. He was 45.

McGhee was six years previous on the time.

“My most vivid reminiscences of him are virtually like a film,” stated McGhee. “I keep in mind being within the automobile listening to music with him. The music ‘Scorching in Right here’ by Nelly had simply dropped. My dad additionally beloved taking part in the ‘House Jam’ soundtrack. Nothing particular occurred on these days. I don’t keep in mind birthday events or something like that. I simply keep in mind these little moments listening to music with him within the automobile. I keep in mind being beloved by my dad.”

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“Ice Chilly Case” is on the market for streaming now. (Beck Media)

It wouldn’t be till 2020 that McGhee was compelled to search out out what occurred to J.C. and why his demise stays unsolved. The coronavirus pandemic was ongoing, and work had slowed down.

“I knew I wanted to do one thing massive if I wished solutions,” stated McGhee. “I used to be furiously making cellphone calls, making an attempt to get these case recordsdata, making an attempt to place in requests, simply making an attempt to get any entry to any information. I began speaking to individuals and making connections. It was a troublesome journey.”

McGhee stated the recognition of true-crime podcasts impressed her to launch “Ice Chilly Case.” She believed it could increase consciousness and encourage anybody with data to return ahead.

Madison McGhee hopes anybody with details about J.C.’s demise will come ahead. (Courtesy of Madison McGhee)

“I really feel fairly assured that I’ll resolve this,” she stated. “The podcast has already opened up a dialog that nobody has had for 22 years. It’s shaken individuals up a bit, however I additionally suppose it opened their eyes to this unsolved case. The locals are speaking about it. Individuals who keep in mind this taking place at the moment are having epiphanies. . . . It’s shaken up the neighborhood and persons are questioning why this case isn’t solved. . . . The impression is plain. And I don’t need anybody to get away with this.”

The podcast revealed that J.C. had been a drug dealer-turned-informant. (Courtesy of Madison McGhee)

In accordance with the podcast, J.C. had been a drug dealer-turned-informant. He helped police arrest a number of individuals, together with considered one of his nephews, who was sentenced to life in jail. Whereas the police concluded that J.C.’s homicide had been a house invasion gone flawed, McGhee had her doubts.

“This investigation was very inconclusive and incomplete for my part,” McGhee defined. “. . . And I feel individuals who have data are afraid to speak. If the one that killed my dad isn’t in jail for one thing else, then which means there’s a killer on the free. That aspect makes individuals afraid to speak. They don’t know if my dad received killed probably as a result of he was a snitch. What message does that ship to individuals who would wish to come ahead with data?”

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Madison McGhee stated it was her mom who revealed the reality. (Courtesy of Madison McGhee)

That hasn’t deterred McGhee.

“I’ve heard from members of the family that they’re lower than thrilled about this present,” she admitted. “I feel they’re upset concerning the skeletons popping out of the closet. A few of them, I feel… are fearful about how they’d be implicated on this. So, they’re sending loopy messages. And I feel that’s additionally fascinating. It’s a bit telling when somebody is feeling so overtly defensive. It virtually sheds a lightweight on them that possibly they didn’t need.”

McGhee stated that after being in the dead of night for therefore lengthy, she didn’t suppose twice about placing the highlight on those that might have solutions.

“I need individuals to see my father as human. He was a sufferer, whatever the circumstances. My dad was a drug vendor, however he was additionally my dad,” Madison McGhee stated. (Courtesy of Madison McGhee)

“My dad used to speak to my mother fairly a bit about considering that somebody was going to kill him,” McGhee claimed. “I feel he knew and handled the load of his selections and his life-style. My mother used to say, ‘Oh cease, you’re going to be OK. Don’t say that.’ It’s very straightforward to brush it off, like, ‘You’re a bit paranoid. You’re being a bit dramatic.’ I feel my dad simply had a really sturdy instinct that one thing was going to occur to him. And it did.”

Madison McGhee stated her father J.C. feared for his life shortly earlier than he was killed. (Courtesy of Madison McGhee)

When McGhee heard the 911 name for the primary time, she was left with extra questions than solutions.

“It didn’t make a whole lot of sense,” she stated. “After I consider a house invasion, I consider a theft. . . . Nothing was stolen. . . .You’d have additionally heard the gunshot. My dad’s home was on this small hill, however the hill stored going. Then there’s a freeway. It echoes. . . . However nothing was introduced up a few gunshot. It simply appeared unusual for a house invasion. It’s all unusual.”

McGhee stated that since “Ice Chilly Case” launched, she has gotten suggestions and is exploring new leads. She is hopeful that, finally, she is going to uncover the id of the one that shot J.C.

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Madison McGhee was six years previous when she misplaced her father. (Courtesy of Madison McGhee)

“Everybody deserves justice – there’s no such factor as the right sufferer,” stated McGhee. “I handled a whole lot of uphill battles to get this present out into the world as a result of nobody wished to assist me. They simply noticed a drug dealer-turned-informant from Ohio. However my dad was a lot greater than that.”

“I need individuals to see my father as human,” she continued. “He was a sufferer, whatever the circumstances. My dad was a drug vendor, however he was additionally my dad. He didn’t should die on this manner. It’s very straightforward to say, ‘That’s what he signed up for,’ however nobody deserves to be murdered.”

By means of the grief, McGhee has gained a deeper appreciation for the person she solely knew for six years.

Madison McGhee is decided to search out out what occurred to J.C. (Beck Media)

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“My dad was an excellent dad,” she stated. “He was dynamic and an excellent individual. I’m now studying from individuals how he was so beneficiant and helped the individuals he beloved. While you wanted assist, he was there. . . . Now I’m there for him.”


True crime podcaster makes an attempt to resolve father’s homicide

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