Roy McGrath, the fugitive ex-chief of staff for former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, has died after he was shot during an arrest in Tennessee, according to a statement by his attorney Joseph Murtha. “It is a tragic ending to the past three weeks of uncertainty,” Murtha said. “I think it is important for me to stress that Roy never wavered about his innocence.”
FOX 5 reports that “the FBI confirmed McGrath was found Monday in the 10700 block of Kingston Pike at Lovell Road in Knoxville, and was shot during the arrest. The FBI said McGrath was wounded and had to be taken to the hospital.”
An arrest warrant was issued for McGrath after he failed to appear in Baltimore, Maryland, for trial on March 13, 2023. McGrath was then considered a fugitive and an international flight risk. On October 5, 2021, McGrath was indicted in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland for violations of 18 USC 1343 (wire fraud) and 18 USC 666 (theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds). During his October 2021 court appearance, McGrath entered a plea of not guilty on all charges and was released pre-trial on the condition that he appear at all scheduled court dates.
On June 28, 2022, a superseding indictment was returned charging McGrath with 18 USC 1519 (destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations). McGrath’s trial was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on March 13, 2023 at the United States District Court in Baltimore. McGrath failed to appear for trial. There was a reward totaling $20,000 offered by the FBI and U.S. Marshals for information leading to McGrath’s arrest.