A man from Kentucky is facing serious charges after police say he murdered his partner and then tried to cover it up with a handwritten to-do list detailing how to clean the scene and dispose of the body. The shocking case has left a quiet town near the Tennessee border stunned.
Missing Person Report Leads to Gruesome Discovery
The case began on September 9 when 36-year-old Damian Poole’s mother reported him missing to the McCreary County Sheriff’s Office. Days later, on September 12, Kentucky State Police troopers arrived at the camper Poole shared with his partner, 39-year-old Daniel Kearney, in Stearns, Kentucky.
Inside, troopers made a horrifying discovery: what appeared to be Poole’s body, wrapped in blankets and hidden in a back room of the camper. According to investigators, Poole had been shot twice in the head and had likely been dead for several days.
His ankles were tied with nylon rope, and police believe the body had been moved after the killing.
Scene Described as Disturbing
In addition to Poole’s body, police also found the bodies of two dogs, believed to have been shot and left to die where they lay. The camper was filled with disturbing evidence, including:
Multiple pools of blood
Bullet holes in walls and objects
Blood-soaked clothing, sheets, and cardboard
An AR-style rifle and several other guns
Perhaps most chilling was a handwritten to-do list, allegedly written by Kearney, with items that included:
Cleaning up and hiding evidence
Using odor sealant to mask smells
Burning and scattering ashes in other states
Getting rid of Poole’s body
Neighbors Say Violence Was Common
Neighbors told FOX 56 that the couple often fought and that gunshots were sometimes heard from the camper. They also said they questioned Kearney after Poole hadn’t been seen, but he reportedly told them that Poole had “moved to another state in the middle of the night.”
Some described Kearney as “aggressive,” “violent,” and a “powder keg.”
Charges and Court Appearance
Daniel Kearney has been formally charged with:
Murder
Abuse of a corpse
Tampering with physical evidence
Second-degree cruelty to animals
He is currently being held at the Knox County Detention Center on a $1 million bond. Kearney is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, September 18.
This disturbing case highlights a tragic story of domestic violence that ended in cold-blooded murder. The evidence, especially the alleged to-do list detailing how to cover up the crime, paints a chilling picture of premeditation.
As the investigation continues, loved ones of Damian Poole and the surrounding community are left grieving — while the legal system moves forward to deliver justice.
