Monica Brook McKay, 50, was found dead in her Tecumseh, Kansas, home on Nov. 28, 2024; an autopsy cited drowning with contributing strangulation and blunt-force trauma. Family members had found hidden cameras and Monica had obtained a protection-from-stalking order a month earlier. Brian P. McKay was arrested in Feb. 2025, convicted in May 2026 of multiple charges including first-degree murder, and sentenced to life with parole possible only after 50 years.
Thanksgiving Murder: Husband Convicted After Stalking and Hidden Cameras in Monica McKay Case
Monica McKay (left); and Brian McKay.Credit: Penwell-Gabel; Shawnee Co. Jail
A Kansas jury has convicted a man in the Thanksgiving Day 2024 killing of his wife, whose body was discovered in their home after family members reported finding covert surveillance devices. The case drew attention for allegations of stalking, secret recordings and a protection order issued by the victim shortly before her death.
What Happened
Fifty-year-old Monica Brook McKay was found dead in the bathtub of her Tecumseh, Kansas, home on Nov. 28, 2024, according to court records and an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE. An autopsy listed the cause of death as "drowning with contributing factors of strangulation and multiple blunt force trauma." Responding officers reported that she was discovered unclothed in the tub.
Allegations of Stalking and Surveillance
Family members—including the son who reported the discovery—had earlier uncovered hidden cameras and recording devices in the house and told investigators they believed the devices had been placed to monitor Monica. One month prior to her death, Monica had obtained a protection-from-stalking order against her then-husband, Brian P. McKay.
Monica McKay.Credit: GoFundMe
Investigation, Arrest and Trial
Investigators spent months reviewing security footage and digital records, including Google search history, which led to Brian McKay's arrest in February 2025 on multiple charges, among them two counts of first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty at trial.
In May 2026 a jury convicted Brian McKay of first-degree murder (intentional and premeditated), first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, aggravated burglary, stalking while subject to a protection order, and related violations. A judge sentenced him to life in prison with parole eligibility only after he serves a minimum of 50 years. Court records show he has filed an appeal challenging the convictions and sentences.
Remembering Monica McKay
In an online obituary and GoFundMe tribute, Monica was remembered as a devoted mother and a nurse who "was admired for her warm personality and inspiring presence." Family members and community members expressed grief and called for awareness of stalking and domestic abuse.
If you are experiencing domestic violence: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. Calls are free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Reporting referenced an affidavit and public court records, and initial coverage appeared in PEOPLE and the Topeka Capital-Journal.
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