In the spring of 2014, the life of 21-year-old Donesha Marie McStoots was violently cut short. On May 9, she was discovered near the Knob Creek Gun Range in Bullitt County, Kentucky, clinging to life after a horrific attack. McStoots, a female from Hardin County who had been residing in Louisville, had been shot twice and had a corrosive substance poured on her. The owner of the gun range found her and rushed her to Southwest Hospital.
Tragically, she lost consciousness during the journey and was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival.
The investigation into the brutal slaying led authorities to 29-year-old Deandre McElroy. Investigators revealed that McElroy had been a suspect within days of the crime. Evidence gathered included DNA found on McStoots's body, which was a match to McElroy, a convicted felon already in the system. Detectives also utilized cell phone records, which reportedly placed McElroy's phone at the scene of the murder around the time the crime was committed. The motive for the attack was not definitively established, though investigators heard speculation about the nature of their relationship, ranging from dating to potential involvement in drug sales. Despite the attempt to destroy evidence by pouring acid on her, enough DNA was recovered to proceed with the investigation.
More than a year after Donesha's death, in late May 2015, an arrest warrant was issued for Deandre McElroy. He was taken into custody by the Louisville Metro Police Department's VIPER Unit at a housing complex in downtown Louisville. McElroy was charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence. The Bullitt County Sheriff's Office expressed relief at his apprehension, hoping it would prevent him from harming anyone else.
However, the legal proceedings took an unexpected turn. In June 2015, during a probable cause hearing, a Bullitt County judge dismissed the murder case against Deandre McElroy, citing a lack of probable cause. The judge deemed the cell phone evidence insufficient to hold him. It was also argued in court that a previous relationship between McElroy and McStoots could potentially explain the presence of his DNA. Following the judge's decision, McElroy was released from the Bullitt County Detention Center. The dismissal left Donesha McStoots's family shocked and devastated, while law enforcement officials stated their intention to continue the investigation and potentially bring the case before a grand jury.
