Handyman Admits to Triple Murder in Brooklyn Apartment Complex
A 71-year-old man identified as Kevin Gavin has pleaded guilty to the murder of three women at an apartment complex in Brooklyn. Prosecutors have labeled him a “serial killer in his apartment,” stating he targeted those who sought help from him.
According to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Gavin admitted to killing the three women between 2015 and 2021. His plea deal includes one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in exchange for a 30-year life sentence.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez condemned Gavin’s actions, emphasizing that he exploited a trusting elderly woman, invading her home and ending her life in a series of brutal attacks. Gonzalez remarked that the victims were vulnerable individuals who deserved safety, yet their lives were taken by those they thought would help them.
Defense attorneys for Gavin chose not to comment following the guilty plea. Gavin lived in the Carter G. Woodson House, a public housing complex designed for the elderly in Brooklyn. The victims include 82-year-old Myrtle McKinney, 83-year-old Jakoria James, and 78-year-old Juanita Caballero.
Prosecutors detailed that McKinney was brutally stabbed in the neck on November 8, 2015. She had moved into the building over a decade ago after retiring from her work as a housekeeper in Jamaica, Florida, and the Bahamas, according to reports.
On April 30, 2019, Gavin attacked James, stomping on his neck and chest, leading to his death. Family members discovered James’s body face down with visible bruises after forcing open the door to his apartment.
In a separate incident, on January 14, 2021, Caballero was found strangled with a telephone cord. Her murder reportedly occurred during a robbery, and her son discovered her body during a weekend visit. Surveillance footage later captured Gavin using Caballero’s debit card, and he was arrested a week after the incident, where he confessed to all three murders.
Concerns over security have risen among residents of Woodson House following these violent acts. In early 2022, the housing authority announced the installation of 127 security cameras throughout the two-building complex to enhance safety measures, addressing community fears.
Sentencing for Gavin is set for May 30, where the court will impose the full term of his plea agreement.
