Louisville woman pleads guilty to killing 2 men in 2021, beheading 1

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday after pleading guilty in the 2021 deaths of two men, one of whom was beheaded.

Sara McQuilling, 44, pleaded guilty in Jefferson Circuit Court to complicity to murder, second-degree complicity to manslaughter, two counts of abuse of a corpse, two counts of tampering with physical evidence and theft.

McQuilling was charged with the murder of Douglas Brooks, who was decapitated, and Jerry Cardin, who was shot and hidden in the crawl space of his home. Brooks was also hidden in the crawl space of his home.

Brooks' head has never been found.

The plea agreement was reached after recent felony mediation between the prosecution and defense. McQuilling entered an Alford plea, meaning she maintained her innocence but acknowledged there was enough evidence for a jury to convict her.

Her attorney, Sheila Seader, reiterated that McQuilling said she is innocent.

Between Sept. 17-24, 2021, according to the plea agreement, McQuilling stabbed Brooks, "acting alone or in complicity with another person."

"The defendant, either alone or with the help of another person, then decapitated Mr. Brooks and placed his body in a crawl space in the cellar of his house," according to the plea.

Brooks' body was discovered Sept. 27, 2021, in the 2000 block of Woodbourne Avenue, just off Bardstown Road in the Highlands Douglass neighborhood.

No one else has been charged in the case. Police have never given a motive.

Erran Huber, a spokesman for the Jefferson Commonwealth's Attorney's office, said in a statement that "at this time, there are no additional charges anticipated in this case and no formally identified defendants."

Asked why McQuilling only received a 20-year sentence with two men killed, Huber did not respond.

On Sept. 20, 2021, McQuilling shot Cardin and placed his body in the crawl space of his house and took his truck. His body was was discovered on Sept. 23, 2021, according to court records.

McQuilling was arrested four days later while driving Cardin's stolen truck.

In the bed of the truck, police found evidence from Brooks' murder, including surveillance video showing McQuilling removing items from his home and putting them in the vehicle.

Police have said they were sent to Cardin's home on Roosevelt Avenue, near Hikes Lane and Buechel Bypass, on Sept. 23, 2021, to check on his welfare.

When officers arrived, they found his body.

This story may be updated.

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