A Clay County jury returned a guilty verdict Wednesday against a Kansas City landlord who allegedly murdered his tenant by stabbing him 36 times.
Gordon McBeth, 47, was convicted of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 28-year-old Darryl “Brent” Gilland on October 22, 2021. A Clay County judge sentenced McBeth on Thursday to life in prison, representing the maximum possible sentence on both counts.
According to court documents, McBeth’s attack on Gilland was unprovoked and occurred in broad daylight in front of several witnesses.
Less than a week after Gilland and his fiancée Samantha “Salem” Pohlman moved into a property owned by McBeth in the 6200 block of N. Topping Avenue in Kansas City, they messaged McBeth to say that their heat was not working and to ask for a space heater, according to court documents and a fundraiser posted by Gilland’s family.
On October 22, 2021, McBeth responded aggressively to the inquiry and later drove erratically to the home on N Topping Avenue, throwing things at Gilland as he exited the car, according to court documents.
As Gilland shielded Samantha behind him, McBeth pointed a hunting knife at Gilland and said something to the effect of, “if that doesn’t work I’ll just (expletive) kill you,” according to court documents.
He then allegedly stabbed Gilland 36 times in the chest, arms, back and left thigh.
According to court documents, one of the neighbors who witnessed the attack held McBeth at gunpoint until Kansas City police officers responded to the home around 3:30 p.m. Gilland was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Family and friends described Gilland as an intelligent and caring “gentle giant”. Named for his father, Gilland grew up in Indiana as the youngest of seven children with a lifelong love of music.
Gilland had been with Pohlman for nearly five years and had hoped to start a family with her in Kansas City. He had just started a new job before moving into the home on N Topping Avenue. He previously played guitar in a local band called Jonny Switchblade, which Pohlman said gave Gilland confidence as he found his way as a young adult in Kansas City.
“We argued that the shocking brutality of this murder deserved the maximum sentence, and the jury agreed,” Clay County prosecuting attorney Zachary Thompson said in a statement Thursday. “Our office is pleased we had the chance to fight for justice in the courtroom and help deliver this verdict for the victim and his family.”
Gilland was buried in Indiana alongside his grandparents. A fundraiser supporting Pohlman, along with funeral and burial costs, raised more than $13,000 in 2021.
McBeth was booked into the Clay County Detention Center on Oct. 23, 2021, on a $1 million bond. He remained in the detention center through his trial and sentencing.
Reporting by The Star’s Anna Spoerre and Glenn Rice was used in this article.
