In the quiet town of London, Kentucky, a sense of unease settled over the community following the death of a local businessman. Bryan Stuart McCarty, a 62-year-old male, was found deceased in his home on Maple Grove Road on September 25, 2021. The discovery was made by a Laurel County sheriff's deputy who had been dispatched to conduct a welfare check after McCarty failed to appear for a business meeting.
This unexpected absence was out of character for the owner of McCarty Rentals, prompting a concerned business associate to contact the authorities.
Upon entering the residence, the deputy found McCarty's body. An autopsy would later reveal a grim reality: he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The nature of his death immediately launched a homicide investigation by the Laurel County Sheriff's Office. As news of the violent death of the well-liked businessman spread, a reward was offered for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The initial reward of $10,000 was later increased to $14,000 with a contribution from London-Laurel County Crime Stoppers, highlighting the community's desire for justice.
Nearly a year after the perplexing crime, a startling development emerged in the case. Victoria Strelsky, a 49-year-old woman described in McCarty's own obituary as his 'soul mate,' was arrested and charged with his murder. The Laurel County Sheriff's Office also leveled charges of first-degree forgery and tampering with physical evidence against her. This turn of events was particularly shocking as Strelsky was listed among McCarty's surviving loved ones in his obituary.
Following her arrest, Strelsky, who had been named the executor of McCarty's estate, was removed from that role. Legal proceedings saw her enter a not guilty plea. Reports indicated that cell phone data placed Strelsky at McCarty's home multiple times on the day of his death. A judge later appointed McCarty's ex-wife, with whom he had maintained a business relationship, as the new executor of his estate.
