Southern Indiana HVAC contractor charged with felony theft, homeowner left in the cold

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A southern Indiana HVAC contractor is facing a felony theft charge.

In a news release, Indiana State Police in Sellersburg said an investigation began in December, after a homeowner paid John Aaron McKinley, 49, of Floyds Knobs, $10,000 to repair her heating and air conditioning system.

McKinley, who is the owner of McKinley Heating and Air, reportedly received payment in advance and removed the entire HVAC system of the home near Pekin in Washington County. But ISP said McKinley never returned to complete the work.

"He had just done work for my brother," Marilyn Crumbo said. "We knew his family. We thought we knew Aaron, which we apparently didn't."

Marilyn and her husband, Keith, said they called McKinley, trusting him, after their heat went out in late October.

Marilyn and Keith Crumbo — Marilyn Crumbo and her husband, Keith. (WDRB photo/Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024)

"Come to find out, he kind of preys on that," Marilyn said. "He preys on our trust and other people's trust."

ISP Detective Travis Baker also learned the homeowners were temporarily heating their house with a wood stove and expected the repairs to be made before cold temperatures set in.

"He kept calling and he kept saying it wasn't in or he had a family issue or some urgent matter he had to attend to and it just went on and on," Marilyn said.

"It's hurt both of us, it's kind of awake at night, driving down the road thinking about it and we're discussing it back and forth," Keith said.

McKinley was arrested on Wednesday and charged with Theft, a level 6 felony. He was booked into the Washington County Jail. He is being held on a $12,000 bond.

The Crumbos said they didn't want to have to go to the police, but they had no other option.

"We don't like that," Keith said. "Even up to the time that we talked to the state policeman, I was expecting him to pull into the driveway any minute with all the equipment on his truck. It was the last thing that she or I wanted to do, but when it finally comes to the realization that you're not gonna get your heat. You've spent almost $11,000, you've got to do something."

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