# Murder of Andreen McDonald

Andreen Nicole McDonald (September 23, 1989 – February 28, 2019) was a 29-year-old businesswoman and philanthropist from Port Antonio Jamaica, who resided in San Antonio, Texas. In February 2019, she was murdered in her home by her husband, Andre McDonald, a U.S. Air Force Major.
Andreen owned a successful assisted living facility and was well-known for her involvement in the community. Despite her professional success, her marriage to Andre McDonald was reportedly troubled, with increasing tension in the months leading up to her disappearance.

## Background

Andreen Nicole Anderson was born in Port Antonio, Jamaica on 23 September 1989 to Jamaican parents who had emigrated to the United States. She was the second of three daughters.
At the time of her murder, she was a businesswoman who ran an assisted living facility called Starlight Homes together with her husband Andre McDonald, a Major in the U.S. Air Force. By many accounts, the marriage was troubled, and the relationship between Andreen and Andre was strained in the months leading up to her disappearance.

## Disappearance

Andreen McDonald was reported missing on March 1, 2019, by friends and family who became concerned after she failed to show up for work and other obligations. Police conducted a welfare check at her home, where they discovered disturbing signs of foul play. Among the findings were cleaning supplies, blood stains, and burned items in the backyard. Investigators quickly turned their attention to her husband, Andre McDonald, as the primary suspect.
Andre was arrested shortly after Andreen's disappearance for tampering with evidence. While he admitted to purchasing the cleaning supplies, he initially denied involvement in his wife's disappearance, regarding allegations, and was released on bond shortly after. However, authorities believed there was strong circumstantial evidence suggesting otherwise, including his suspicious behavior, and the materials he bought seemed to indicate an attempt to cover up a crime.

### Search and investigation

For several months, investigators, family members, and volunteers searched for Andreen's body. Authorities were eventually able to gather more evidence against Andre McDonald through surveillance footage, records, and witness testimony. Investigators believed that Andre McDonald killed his wife during an argument, disposed of her body, and tried to erase evidence of the crime.
On July 11, 2019, Andreen's remains were discovered by a passerby on a private ranch in northern Bexar County, Texas. The remains were identified as Andreen McDonald through dental records. This discovery led to Andre McDonald being charged with first-degree murder.

## Trial and sentencing

Andre McDonald went to trial in 2023 for the murder of his wife. The prosecution presented a case that focused on Andre's history of domestic violence, the circumstantial evidence gathered from the crime scene, and his attempts to cover up the murder.
Despite the defense's claims, the jury found Andre McDonald guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The sentence prompted a great deal of public criticism, with many feeling that justice was not adequately served for Andreen McDonald and her family.

## Aftermath
### Custody battle over daughter

Andre McDonald's parents sought custody of their granddaughter, arguing that they were fit and capable of providing a stable environment. However, Andreen McDonald's mother, who lived in Jamaica, contended that her daughter would have wanted her granddaughter to be raised by her family. She argued that Andre's family, given their connection to her daughter's killer, was not a suitable environment for the child.
After a drawn-out legal battle, the court ultimately sided with Andreen McDonald's mother, granting her custody of the child. The decision was heavily influenced by the court's consideration of the child's best interests and the connection she had with her maternal grandmother.

### Wrongful death lawsuit

In addition to the custody battle, Andreen McDonald's family pursued a civil lawsuit against Andre McDonald for her wrongful death. In 2023, the courts awarded Andreen's estate a staggering $210 million in damages, holding Andre McDonald responsible for the loss and suffering he caused.

## In popular culture

* In December 2023, the case was the topic of the 48 Hours episode InIvestigates tragic case of Andreen McDonald's disappearance and murder.