A tragic incident unfolded at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California, as Patricia “Trish” McKay, a New Zealand tourist, lost her life in an armed robbery. Trish and her husband, Douglas McKay, were targeted by a robbery crew while leaving the upscale mall. The perpetrators, one of whom had a previous record of similar crimes, confronted the couple, resulting in a fatal confrontation.
On July 2, as the McKays awaited their ride, a white Toyota Camry pulled up, and two masked men emerged. One of them held a gun to Douglas McKay’s head, demanding his watch and forcing him to the ground. The other assailant dragged Trish McKay into the street, attempting to snatch the designer shopping bags from her. The Camry, with its getaway driver, started moving forward. In a desperate attempt to protect his wife, Douglas jumped in front of the vehicle, but the driver, identified as Leroy Ernest Joseph McCrary, ran over Trish, dragging her body across the parking lot for 65 feet.
A courageous bystander, Beau Bayless, pursued the fleeing car, but one of the robbers fired three shots at him, forcing him to halt his pursuit. Eyewitnesses immediately dialed 911, prompting a swift police response. The Camry embarked on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of up to 110 mph on the 105 Freeway, narrowly avoiding collisions with other vehicles. Eventually, one of the suspects, Jaden Cunningham, was apprehended after abandoning the vehicle in Cypress. McCrary and another suspect, Malachi Eddward Darnell, were later arrested in South Gate.
Douglas McKay, a prominent business executive and former chair of the Bank of New Zealand, and Trish McKay, aged 68, were visiting Newport Beach, a renowned destination for upscale tourists. Trish’s untimely death has left her family devastated. In a statement, the family expressed their profound sadness and requested privacy during this difficult time. They also conveyed their gratitude for the support they have received and expressed their hope to repatriate Trish’s remains to New Zealand soon.
Orange County prosecutors have charged McCrary, Darnell, and Cunningham with murder, making them eligible for the death penalty. However, California’s current moratorium on executions since 2019 means that the death penalty cannot be carried out. McCrary, a repeat offender, had evaded prison time for his previous felony convictions due to issues with proof in his cases. Darnell faces additional charges of attempted second-degree robbery, attempted murder, and firearm-related offenses, while Cunningham is also charged with attempted second-degree robbery.
