Roy McGrathwho served as a top aide to the former Governor of Maryland. Larry Hogan (R), died Monday during a confrontation with police after a three-week manhunt.
McGrath had been on the run for 21 days after did not appear for trial March 13 on fraud and embezzlement charges in the US District Court in Baltimore.
An attorney for his family said McGrath died after federal agents tried to arrest him Monday night. It is not clear if he died of a self-inflicted wound or during an exchange of fire with federal agents.
“The loss of Roy’s life is an absolute tragedy, and I think it’s important for me to say that Roy never wavered in his innocence,” said Joseph Murtha, attorney for McGrath’s wife. told the Washington Post.
He fbi said Monday that McGrath was injured during an “officer-involved shooting” near Knoxville, Tennessee. He was taken to a hospital but died from his injuries.
The authorities have not yet detailed the events that led to the confrontation.
McGrath was indicted in 2021 on a series of fraud charges. In one case, prosecutors accused McGrath of defrauding the Maryland Environmental Service out of a severance package of more than $233,000 before going to work for Hogan.
He had served as the governor’s chief of staff for only three months when the baltimore sun reported on the severance package, revelations that prompted legislative hearings and McGrath’s final resignation. McGrath maintained that the governor approved the severance agreement, but Hogan denied any knowledge of it and has been cooperating with investigators. The former governor was on the prosecution’s witness list for the trial.
Hogan issued a statement through his spokesperson on Monday, saying he was “deeply saddened by this tragic situation.”
“We are praying for Mr. McGrath’s family and loved ones,” the former governor said.
If convicted, McGrath would have faced decades in prison.
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