Joey and Jesse McCartney: 2 suspects arrested for 2013 home invasion murder of Destiny Pittman
KOKOMO, INDIANA: Two men identified as suspects in the decade-long cold case murder of Destiny Renee Pittman were arrested on Thursday, March 2. The 21-year-old girl was fatally shot in her home in Kokomo, Indiana on February 7, 2013.
Jesse McCartney, 36, and Joey McCartney, allegedly killed Pittman after she was shot in the chest and are currently taken into custody for the home invasion murder. On Thursday morning, US Marshals took Joey into custody from a residence in Graham, Kentucky, and two hours later, local police joined the US Marshals to arrest Jesse from a residence in Kokomo, Indiana, reported Law and Crime.
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How did investigators solve the Destiny Pittman cold case murder?
Investigators of the Pittman cold case killing were still on their search to solve the mysterious murder until a month ago. Ten years later, authorities have now identified the two suspects who allegedly committed robbery, burglary, and the murder of Pittman, whose death left her family devastated.
Detailing the murder scene and the arrest a decade later, the Kokomo Police department released a statement and wrote, "On February 7, 2013, at approximately 9:33 pm, officers of the Kokomo Police Department were dispatched to 815 James Drive in reference to a shooting. Upon their arrival, officers located 21-year-old Destiny Pittman suffering from a gunshot wound. Destiny was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators with the Kokomo Police Department have continued to investigate multiple leads on this case since 2013."
"As a result of the continued investigation, along with citizens continuing to provide leads, investigators with the Criminal Investigations Section were able to obtain arrest warrants for two individuals,” the statement continued.
According to a 2015 report by Kokomo Tribune, Pittman was murdered in the house she shared with her boyfriend and at the time of the shooting, a female roommate and two children were present at the residence but they managed to escape the place unharmed. The report also said that three dogs were there in the house when the murder took place.
What are the charges against the McCartneys?
In connection to the 2013 murder of Pittman, Jesse, and Joey each face charges of conspiracy to commit burglary resulting in bodily injury, robbery resulting in bodily injury, and murder. The McCartney's connection to each other or the murdered girl was not specified by authorities. However, according to the report by Tribune, Jesse and Joey are brothers. Pittman, who was born on January 9, 1992, in Kokoma would be 31 years old if she was still alive.