The Murder of Steven McQuay
This case was requested, and for this case I watched an episode of The Murder Tapes. It’s season 7 episode 4, titled ‘The Body in the Truck.’
A complicated story involving the death of a 56-year-old man is investigated.
Background
Steven McQuay was born and raised in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He was very close to his family, especially to his mom, Daphyne, and sister, Paula. Steven was also a father, and had one son named Kevin.
Steven was described as very loving, kind, and fun to be around. Steven’s family had always lived out in the country, and he loved to swim and fish.
Steven McQuay
The Crime
On September 8, 2019, the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 3:57am. The call was about an unresponsive male that had been found in a ditch, and put into the back of a pickup truck.
The 911 caller was a man, only referred to as Dan. The police had followed Dan to his home on Samantha Drive. The police asked Dan if he was the driver and owner of the pickup truck, but he said no. The driver, a man named William Weston Moon, had left his house and went to the store. He and Dan were neighbors.
In the back of Weston’s truck, the police saw the body of Steven McQuay. Steven had been beaten, and had injuries to his head and face. He also had scratches on his arms.
Also in the truck, was a backpack, and several tools, including a screwdriver, crow bar, tire iron, and a hypodermic needle. There wasn’t any blood in the truck, so the police needed to find where the crime actually occurred.
Dan was asked why he didn’t call 911 when they first found Steven’s body. Dan said he didn’t have a phone, so they decided to put him in the truck. The police can be heard saying on their body cam, that it was the “strangest shit” they ever heard.
The Prime Suspect
The police eventually tracked Weston down at a convenience store about 100 yards away from his house.
When the police caught up to him, he was asked why he fled the scene. They also asked him why he had blood on his face. He said he probably got it from lifting Steven in the truck. He said he was nervous, and revealed to the police that Steven was actually his best friend. Weston was erratic, but didn’t seem to concerned that his “best friend” was lying dead in his truck.
The police found a knife on Weston, and took him down to the police station for further questioning. He turned into a different person, and could barely look any of the detectives in the face.
Weston made statements like, “it’s not what it seems,” and “they are going to turn it into something I didn’t do.” Weston eventually asked for an attorney, and the interview was over.
Steven’s official autopsy report revealed that his cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. There was a cancerous tumor on his liver that had been ruptured due to be kicked. Steven’s toxicology report revealed that he had meth in his system.
Steven’s family didn't find out that he had been diagnosed with cancer until the autopsy report came out. Steven’s son, Kevin, said Steven wouldn’t have wanted them to be sad, or worry about him.
Dan’s Story
The police were still very confused about what actually led to Steven’s death. They knew that their only eye witness was Dan, so he was questioned at the police station.
Dan revealed that he was actually Steven’s cousin. He said that he, Weston, and Steven had been together all afternoon and night on September 7. He was picked up at his Samantha Drive home around 4 or 5pm. They then drove to Harrisburg to get some blue Xanax pills, and then to a friend’s house on County Road 625.
Dan said a fight broke out between Weston and Steven at the County Road 625 house. It was around 9 or 10pm when the fight started. Steven had grabbed Weston’s backpack, and started to walk away. Dan said Weston was yelling at Steven to give him the backpack. Steven began swinging a screwdriver at Weston, which led to a fist fight. Dan said that Steven had been hit so hard, but was able to get up and walk away. He ended up in the ditch when he collapsed.
During his first interview, Dan told the police that he didn’t call 911 because he didn’t have access to a phone. This was a lie because Dan did make another 911 call that night. Dan said that a man was drunk, and injured on the side of the road. He asked for an ambulance, but said “oh he’s fine,” and didn’t need an ambulance anymore.
Weston’s Confession
The police spoke to the owners of the house on County Road 625. The owners were known to the police, as the house was a meth house.
Beth told the police that she did see some of the fight between Weston and Steven. Beth said Steven was flinging the backpack at Weston, and had several weapons, including a screwdriver. Beth said she went inside the house after seeing Steven get punched once in the face.
Billy told the police that he had sent a message to a man named Justin, who also lived at the house, but wasn’t at the home at the time. He said that he texted Justin around midnight to tell him that several people were messed up on pills, and fighting in the yard.
The police were monitoring Weston’s jail calls. In one call, Weston can be heard discussing the difference between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. He also said that wondered what the law said about a fist fight that led to an accident.
Weston agreed to make a statement if he could speak to Captain Ron Richardson. Captain Richardson had also dealt with Weston’s father in the past. Weston told him that he and Steven had gotten into a fight over the backpack. He said that he had knocked Steven out after he punched him, and decided to give him a bump of meth to wake him up.
However, Weston killed Steven. When he realized what he did, he picked up him, and put him in his truck.
The Conviction and Motive
Weston said no one else was involved. It’s believed that the blue Xanax pills were in the backpack. It’s also been reported that the two had been fighting over a meth pipe. Weston and Steven were messed up on pills, and something that seemed like an accident led to a man being killed.
William Weston Moon was charged with second degree murder. He eventually pled guilty to manslaughter, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
William Weston Moon
Dan was never arrested or charged.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Dan and Weston should have just been truthful from the very beginning. I don’t think they meant to kill or harm Steven, but they should have had the ambulance and police help him.
Steven’s family said that he was with his cousin that night, and not even his own family helped him. Steven had never been violent with anyone, and lost his life over nothing.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/steven-mcquay-murder-where-is-william-weston-moon-now/
https://spikytv.com/steven-mcquay-murder/
https://www.kait8.com/2019/09/08/jonesboro-police-investigating-possible-homicide/
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/sep/11/northeast-arkansas-man-charged-2nd-degree-murder-a/
