On October 8, 2005, 42-year-old David Walter McEntire was seen by his family for the last time as he was leaving his residence in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania. This departure marked the beginning of a years-long mystery that would eventually unravel a dark story of violence and betrayal within the rural landscape of Monroe County. McEntire, a devoted father and local carpenter, seemingly vanished without a trace, leaving behind a life and family who awaited his return. His vehicle was later discovered just a few miles from his home, parked in the lot of his business on State Route 209 in Chestnuthill Township. The discovery of the van, however, only deepened the mystery as the keys were found locked inside the ignition and the steering wheel had been wiped clean of any fingerprints, an ominous sign that suggested a deliberate attempt to erase any clues.
In the initial years following McEntire's disappearance, his case grew cold.
There was no activity on his bank accounts, he hadn't paid any bills, and there was no record of him obtaining a driver's license anywhere in the United States. For years, the community was left with nothing but rumors and speculation about what might have happened to the well-known carpenter. The silence was finally broken in 2009 when a woman named Lisa Stavish, arrested on unrelated charges, began to speak. Hoping to secure a deal with authorities, she recounted a horrific story she claimed to have witnessed: the murder of David McEntire. Her confession cracked open the cold case and led investigators down a path into the local drug underworld of the Pocono Mountains.
Stavish's account implicated several individuals, including Edwin 'Beans' Kelly, Anthony 'Frank' Caiby, and James 'Buddah' Gaines. According to court testimony, the motive for McEntire's murder stemmed from a drug deal gone wrong, with Caiby, a drug dealer, believing McEntire had stolen cocaine and money from him. On the day of his disappearance, McEntire had gone to Kelly's home where he was ambushed. He was reportedly beaten, taken to the basement, shot multiple times, and injected with a lethal combination of cocaine and bleach. His body was then burned in a fire pit, and his remains were disposed of at a junkyard in Hazleton. In the aftermath, Kelly and Stavish pleaded guilty to third-degree murder. In 2016, Anthony Caiby was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. James Gaines was incarcerated in New York on an unrelated matter, awaiting extradition to face charges for his role in the crime. Despite the convictions and the detailed confessions that brought a measure of justice, David McEntire's remains have never been found. The case serves as a somber reminder of a life cut short by violence, and a family left without the closure of laying their loved one to rest.Last Seen: Oct 8, 2005
