Missouri Landlord Charged After Fatally Stabbing Tenant 30 Times Over Heating Complaint

A landlord has been charged in Missouri for allegedly stabbing one of his tenants to death following an argument over lack of heating at the victim's residence.

Gordon McBeth, 44, was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action Monday for allegedly stabbing Darryl Gilland more than 30 times Friday, which led to the victim's demise.

Kansas City Police were called to a residence in the 6200 block of North Topping Avenue around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 22. When responding officers got to the scene, they found a man holding McBeth at gunpoint. Based on a statement obtained by KSHB, a witness told the officers McBeth stabbed Gilland.

Gillan's girlfriend, Samantha Pohlman, was present during the crime. She told the police they were messaging McBeth about a problem with the heater at the residence the couple was renting. Initially, McBeth behaved cordially toward them.

"He just messaged him like, 'Hey, can we please just do something about the heating situation," Pohlman said as per KCTV. "At first, the guy was perfectly nice about it. He was like, 'Yeah I'll come over and we'll do that.' And then just out of nowhere he completely flipped and acted like we were asking too much and being a complete burden."

According to witnesses, McBeth drove erratically into the couple's driveway. Then, according to Pohlman, the man got out of the car, threw insulation at her and said that if it wasn't good enough, he would kill her fiancé.

After the altercation, McBeth stabbed the victim multiple times with a hunting knife and without provocation.

While McBeth was attacking the victim, Pohlam ran for help. Neighbors and witnesses told the police they heard "horrific screaming" and came to rescue. The neighbors held McBeth until police arrived at the scene.

Gilland's mother, Donna Groves, spoke up about the incident.

"That's my baby. My son was a very gentle, loving, caring, and would do anything for anybody," she told KCTV. "He did not deserve this. No one deserves it, but he especially did not deserve this."

Groves also commended the neighbors for holding the accused until the officers arrived.

"The neighbors are heroes," she said.

McBeth is currently being held on a $1 million bond. He pleaded not guilty in court Monday.