The Unsolved Murder of J.C. McGhee: A Daughter's Quest for Justice

Madison McGhee spent years believing her father died of a heart attack. But in 2012, she learned the shocking truth: J.C. McGhee was murdered, and the case remains unsolved. Now, Madison is determined to uncover the truth and bring justice to her father.

For 10 long years, Madison McGhee carried a heavy secret. She believed that her father, J.C., had died of a heart attack when she was just a young girl. But in 2012, everything changed.

It was during a visit to her family's home that Madison had a sudden and inexplicable feeling of dread. "I asked my mom if my cousin Omar was with my dad when he died, thinking that he had died of a heart attack," she recalled to Fox News Digital. "That's when my mom told me the truth. The truth was my dad was murdered, and it's still unsolved."

The Unsolved Murder of J.C. McGhee: A Daughter's Quest for Justice

The news shattered Madison's world. She had to grieve her father all over again, this time knowing that his death was a violent act of crime. Determined to find out what happened, she embarked on a quest for justice that has led her to launch a true-crime podcast called "Ice Cold Case."

"For years, my dad in my mind had died of a heart attack," said Madison. "But to then find out he died a completely different way? I had to start the process completely over. I had to grieve him all over again. I've had to grapple with the truth of what happened to him."

The Unsolved Murder of J.C. McGhee: A Daughter's Quest for Justice

On July 11, 2002, John Cornelius McGhee, known as "J.C.," was shot in the head in the doorway of his home in Belmont County, Ohio. He was 45.

Madison was only six years old at the time. "My most vivid memories of him are almost like a movie," she said. "I remember being in the car listening to music with him. The song 'Hot in Here' by Nelly had just dropped. My dad also loved playing the 'Space Jam' soundtrack. Nothing special happened on those days. I don't remember birthday parties or anything like that. I just remember those little moments listening to music with him in the car. I remember being loved by my dad."

The Unsolved Murder of J.C. McGhee: A Daughter's Quest for Justice

It wasn't until 2020 that Madison felt compelled to find out what happened to J.C. and why his death remained unsolved. The coronavirus pandemic had slowed down her work, giving her the time and opportunity she needed to delve into the investigation.

"I knew I needed to do something big if I wanted answers," said Madison. "I was furiously making phone calls, trying to get these case files, trying to put in requests, just trying to get any access to any records. I started talking to people and making connections. It was a tough journey."

The Unsolved Murder of J.C. McGhee: A Daughter's Quest for Justice

Madison's determination led her to launch "Ice Cold Case," a podcast where she interviews people who may have information about her father's murder. She believes that by raising awareness, she can encourage witnesses or those with knowledge to come forward.

"I feel pretty confident that I will get to the bottom of this," she said. "The podcast has already opened up a conversation that no one has had for 22 years. It's shaken people up a bit, but I also think it opened their eyes to this unsolved case. The locals are talking about it. People who remember this happening are now having epiphanies. . . . It's shaken up the community and people are wondering why this case isn't solved. . . . The impact is undeniable. And I don't want anyone to get away with this."

The Unsolved Murder of J.C. McGhee: A Daughter's Quest for Justice

According to the podcast, J.C. had been a drug dealer who turned informant. He helped police arrest several people, including one of his nephews, who was sentenced to life in prison. While the police concluded that J.C.'s murder had been a home invasion gone wrong, Madison is skeptical.

"This investigation was very inconclusive and incomplete in my opinion," she explained. ". . . And I think people who have information are afraid to talk. If the person who killed my dad isn't in prison for something else, then that means there's a killer on the loose. That element makes people afraid to talk. They don't know if my dad got killed potentially because he was a snitch. What message does that send to people who would want to come forward with information?"

The Unsolved Murder of J.C. McGhee: A Daughter's Quest for Justice

Despite these challenges, Madison is undeterred. "I've heard from family members that they are less than thrilled about this show," she admitted. "I think they're upset about the skeletons coming out of the closet. Some of them, I think… are worried about how they would be implicated in this. So, they are sending crazy messages. And I think that's also interesting. It's a bit telling when someone is feeling so openly defensive. It almost sheds a light on them that maybe they didn't want."

Madison is determined to find justice for her father, no matter how painful the journey may be. "My dad used to talk to my mom quite a bit about thinking that someone was going to kill him," she claimed. "I think he knew and dealt with the weight of his decisions and his lifestyle. My mom used to say, 'Oh stop, you're going to be OK. Don't say that.' It's very easy to brush it off, like, 'You're a little paranoid. You're being a little dramatic.' I think my dad just had a very strong intuition that something was going to happen to him. And it did."

The Unsolved Murder of J.C. McGhee: A Daughter's Quest for Justice

Madison's search for justice has led her to a deeper understanding of her father's life. "My dad was a good dad," she said. "He was dynamic and a good person. I'm now learning from people how he was so generous and helped the people he loved. When you needed help, he was there. . . . Now I'm there for him."