Margaret A. Kearney, 69, has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder in the death of her live-in boyfriend, Gary Polony, who was a terminally ill cancer patient. Kearney was taken into custody last month, as per court records.
A probable cause affidavit, obtained by Law&Crime, details that Polony, under hospice care for terminal rectal cancer, was found deceased on December 20, 2023, by a home health care worker. Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies noted no concerning injuries on Polony at the scene.
A witness, a long-time friend of Kearney, reported suspicious behavior by Kearney before Polony’s death. According to the affidavit, Kearney expressed frustration over caring for Polony, particularly due to his illness-related incontinence.
The witness recounted a phone call from Kearney on December 20, where Kearney allegedly confessed to smothering Polony with a pillow. Kearney purportedly planned to cover his body with a blanket, sleep elsewhere, and feign discovery of his death the next day.
In a controlled phone call with Kearney, orchestrated by authorities, Kearney reportedly admitted to feeling relieved after the act and confirmed using a pillow to smother Polony. This evidence contributed to Kearney’s arrest and charge in this case.