In a quiet apartment in Swissvale, a suburb of Pittsburgh, the lives of 39-year-old Megan Campbell and her 7-year-old daughter, Lyla, were brought to a tragic and violent end. On the morning of February 15, 2023, first responders, initially called to the scene for a medical emergency, were unable to enter the barricaded apartment. Once inside, they made a grim discovery: the bodies of Megan and Lyla, both of whom had been shot in the head at close range.
Megan, a registered nurse who had recently been promoted to Director of Nursing, was found in her nursing scrubs, her toothbrush underneath her body, suggesting the attack happened as she was getting ready for work. Lyla was found in her bed, covered by a blanket.
The investigation quickly focused on Kareef Easington, a man who had been living with Megan on and off for several months. Investigators believe the motive for the killings was Megan's decision to kick Easington out of her apartment. The morning of the murders, Megan's mother had a somber phone conversation with her daughter and heard her tell Easington to get out of her house. Police believe the murders occurred around 7 a.m. Later that morning, 911 received multiple calls from a man who did not identify himself but requested paramedics, providing incorrect apartment numbers.
Evidence at the scene pointed towards a struggle. Investigators found a pistol, dumbbells used to barricade the door, an overturned chair, and other items. Crucially, DNA evidence collected from these items linked Easington to the crime scene. His DNA was found on all six evidence items that were tested. Authorities also discovered some of Easington's belongings, including his car keys, phone SIM card, and bullet casings, in the toilet.
Kareef Easington was arrested and charged with the murders of Megan and Lyla Campbell. In April 2024, a jury found him guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of tampering with evidence. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
