The Murder of Dana Mackay
I'M BACK!!! I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas. I spent time with my husband, and had two much needed days off from work!
For this case, I watched an episode of Married With Secrets. It’s season 2 episode 8, titled ‘Sick and Twisted.’
A 42-year-old woman is found dead in her home.
Background
Dana Mackay grew up in the small town of Calhoun, Georgia. After her divorce, Dana met John Mackay, an Army man, who was deployed in Iraq. Dana’s first marriage had ended due to infidelity, and she was scared of opening her heart again. However, she and John hit it off, and quickly got married.
Dana was described as lovable, and had a very kind heart.
Dana Mackay
A Crumbling Marriage
In July 2012, Dana began to experience headaches and dizziness. By November of that year, she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, and had to undergo brain surgery.
Dana took a leave of absence from her job at a flooring company. John took care of her, and had to work two jobs to help pay off their medical bills.
At his second job at an auto parts store, John met 34-year-old Nicole Houchin. Nicole was also married to a military man named Nace Houchin, but their marriage was crumbling as well.
Dana found out about John’s affair, and gave him an ultimatum: break off the relationship with Nicole, or she would tell his commanding officer. John agreed to work on their marriage, and ended his relationship with Nicole.
Nicole was pissed. She harassed Dana, who she blamed for the breakup. She would send Dana threatening messages, and drive past the home several times a day. Dana was so afraid, and talked to her friends about it, about a month before her death.
The Murder
On July 26, 2013, Dana spoke to her mom Sarah Pearson on the phone. Dana was currently at home alone, because John was up in New York visiting his family.
The next day, July 27, Sarah couldn’t get a hold of Dana. She contacted a neighbor of the Mackay’s to do a welfare check.
The neighbor walked in to find the house in disarray. Items were strewn about, and papers were out of place.
The James City County police were called to the Mackay’s home. Dana had been found nude, on the floor, near the side of her bed. It was a very brutal attack. Dana had defensive wounds, and the doorjamb had been kicked in.
The police also found some other strange things on Dana’s body. A piece of blue latex glove was found on her back, and there were about 6 strands of blonde hair in Dana’s palm. They were collected, and sent in for testing.
A Possible Suspect
The police had to break the news to Sarah, and to John, who told the police he’d return home immediately.
The police learned about Dana and John’s financial problems. John’s alibi did check out. He had been in New York with his mom and sister.
Dana’s autopsy revealed that her cause of death was blunt force trauma, and that she had not been sexually assaulted.
During the investigation, the police learned from Dana’s friend Heidi, that Dana had been being stalked by Nicole. Heidi told the police that John had brought Nicole into their home while Dana was at her grandma’s funeral. Dana found items in her refrigerator that didn’t belong to her, and then learned of the affair.
She had been suspicious for awhile, but didn’t want to have another failed marriage. She gave John the ultimatum, and he agreed to work on the marriage.
The Girlfriend
John and Nicole started off as friends, but soon they were kissing at work, and going to hotels during their lunch breaks.
John told Nicole that he wanted to leave Dana, and be with her. He then broke up with her, about a month before Dana’s murder.
The police went to speak with Nicole. Nicole did confirm that she did have a relationship with John. Nicole told the police that she had been with another co-worker named Greg Crawford, during the weekend of the murder.
Nicole was confronted about the blonde hairs found in Dana’s hand. She denied that they were hers, and agreed to go down to the station to give a sample.
The Cell Phone
On July 29, 2013, John returned back from New York, and met with the police.
John denied being involved. The police confronted him about his lack of emotion, and asked him who would want to hurt Dana. John said he didn’t know. The police asked him if Dana was afraid of Nicole, and he said no.
About an hour into the interrogation, another investigator knocked on the door. One of the John’s friends had turned in one of John’s old cell phones. On the phone, there were several emails, and messages between John and Nicole. In the messages, they had plotted Dana’s murder.
John and Nicole were both confronted. They denied it, and said that they were just fantasizing. Nicole told John that she wanted it to be done ASAP. John told her he’d be “forever in debt to her,” and would “show her everyday.”
John Mackay and Nicole Houchin were both arrested, and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, and first degree murder.
Murder For Hire
That is not the end of this case. No, not by a long shot.
The lab results came back. There were no fingerprints in the latex glove, and the hair in Dana’s hand was actually her own.
The police believed Nicole had help, since John was in New York when Dana was killed. In fact she had help from the last person that the police had suspected: her husband Nace.
About two months after Dana’s death, a witness came forward. The witness said that Nace, and Greg Crawford, were both promised $20,000 to help Nicole and John.
Nace admitted his involvement in a confession letter found in his car. John told the three to wear gloves, and how to get into his home on July 26.
Nace was the one who killed Dana. Greg and Nicole staged a robbery in the home.
Nace Houchin and Gregory Crawford were also arrested for conspiracy and first degree murder.
The Convictions
In 2015, Nicole, John, and Nace, pleaded guilty to first degree murder. They were sentenced to life in prison, but some charges were dropped due to their plea agreements.
John was sentenced to 28 years, Nicole to 23 years, and Nace to 40 years.
Gregory Crawford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit capital murder. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
John Mackay, Nicole Houchin, Nace Houchin, Gregory Crawford
FINAL THOUGHTS
I will never understand how people kill other people, but I most certainly don’t understand how FOUR people agree to kill. They all obviously have their own issues, but have completely ruined their lives. John and Nicole killed because they wanted to have a relationship, when they could’ve just been together without killing Dana. Greg and Nace are both greedy scums. They all deserve longer sentences if you ask me, but I guess the justice system doesn’t always get it right.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/dana-mackay-murder-where-are-john-mackay-and-nicole-houchin-now/
https://www.nationalenquirer.com/true-crime/cheating-wife-hires-own-husband-to-kill-lovers-spouse/
