About this series: Megan McDonald was just 20 when her beaten body was found in a field in Orange County, NY, in March 2003. For 20 years, her family has waited for answers. Then last spring, State Police charged Edward Holley with second-degree murder.
Holley says he’s innocent.
The USA Today Network New York has reviewed an internal State Police report that takes us deep into the investigation. It reaches a shocking conclusion.
State Police say Orange County DA David Hoovler deliberately tampered with their investigation because he had once represented a man they believe was in the car the night Megan McDonald was murdered. David Hoovler has denied any such tampering took place. At the very least, the report exposes the bad blood that existed between police and prosecutors.
And it begs the question: Did that toxic relationship delay justice for Megan McDonald? Check out the stories below to learn more.
It took 20 years for police to make an arrest in the 2003 Megan McDonald murder near Wallkill, NY. This exclusive report explains what happened.
It’s been nearly 21 years since Megan McDonald’s body was found in an Orange County field. Our timeline takes you through the cold case’s every turn.
Who’s Who in the Megan McDonald homicide: The family, the suspects, the lawyers, the police and the judge in Orange County’s high-profile case.
The internal State Police report follows DA David Hoovler, and the facts of the Megan McDonald murder case, all over Orange County.
David Hoovler wanted a plea deal for the man police believe sat next to Megan McDonald when she was murdered. Here’s what Hoovler said at the time.
Orange County Judge Craig Stephen Brown had a question about the Megan McDonald murder investigation. Did asking it cross a line?
Erie County DA John Flynn discusses how and when a prosecutor should recuse themself.
President of State Bar Association talks about attorney-client privilege, a bedrock legal principle, and one that binds DA David Hoovler.
Jason Rivera says he had nothing to do with the Megan McDonald case, and was only linked to it because his brother-in-law judge made a mistake.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: See all of our Megan McDonald NY murder case series coverage here
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