BROOKLYN, NY — A 71-year-old handyman pleaded guilty Friday to murdering three elderly women in their apartments at a Brooklyn senior housing complex, admitting to a six-year killing spree that terrorized residents who had trusted him for repairs.
Kevin Gavin accepted a plea deal of 30 years to life in prison for the deaths of Myrtle McKinney, 82, Jacolia James, 83, and Juanita Caballero, 78, between 2015 and 2021 at the Carter G. Woodson Houses in Brownsville. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez described Gavin as a “serial killer inside his own apartment building” who exploited vulnerable neighbors seeking help with household tasks. The plea agreement covers one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder, ensuring Gavin will likely spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
“This defendant exploited elderly women who trusted him, gained access to their homes, and murdered them in a series of brutal attacks that shocked the conscience,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “These victims were vulnerable neighbors who deserved safety and dignity, and instead had their lives stolen by someone they believed was there to help.” Gavin’s first victim, McKinney, was found dead on her kitchen floor on November 8, 2015, initially thought to have died from natural causes. An undertaker later discovered a knife wound on the back of her neck and three broken ribs, prompting investigators to reclassify the death as a homicide. McKinney, a retired housekeeper from Jamaica who had worked in Florida and the Bahamas, had lived in the building for more than a decade before her death.
The killing pattern continued nearly four years later when James was found lifeless in her 11th-floor apartment on April 30, 2019. A relative discovered James face down and bruised after pushing open her unlocked apartment door, according to New York Magazine. Despite being described by family as vigilant and wary of strangers after living in the complex for decades, James had apparently allowed Gavin inside. Court documents reveal Gavin later confessed to choking James before stomping on her neck three times. In each case, investigators found no evidence of forced entry and nothing appeared to be missing from the apartments, suggesting the victims had willingly admitted their killer.
The final murder occurred on January 14, 2021, when Gavin killed Caballero during what prosecutors described as a robbery. Known as “Lucy” for her side business selling loose cigarettes in the building, Caballero was strangled with a phone cord in her apartment. Her son found her body the next day during a weekend visit, discovering the front door locked and his mother lying in the hallway. Despite attempting CPR, he could not revive her. Security cameras later captured Gavin using Caballero’s debit card at multiple locations in the days following her death, providing the crucial evidence that led to his arrest on January 21, 2021. During questioning by 73rd Precinct detectives, Gavin claimed the phone cord became wrapped around Caballero’s neck “during a struggle.”
The murders exposed significant security vulnerabilities at the circa-1970 public housing complex operated by the New York City Housing Authority. Community concerns about safety prompted calls for enhanced surveillance, leading NYCHA to install 127 security cameras throughout the two-building complex in early 2022. The cameras were placed in stairwells, on rooftops, and in elevators to monitor common areas where residents might be vulnerable. A NYCHA spokesperson confirmed Friday that the complex now operates 140 security cameras and expressed gratitude to law enforcement for resolving the case. “Woodson Houses is now fully equipped with a new network of security cameras to help improve safety for residents,” the housing authority stated.
Gavin’s confession to all three murders came after his arrest in connection with Caballero’s death, when he told investigators he had been in financial disputes with each victim. He claimed to have “fought with each victim prior to their death,” according to the district attorney’s office, though he offered different explanations for how the deaths occurred. In McKinney’s case, he told investigators he pushed her “into a table where a steak knife was located and it punctured her,” minimizing his role in the fatal injury. The handyman had gained access to his victims’ homes by offering repair services, exploiting the trust of elderly residents who needed assistance with maintenance tasks in their apartments.
Gavin appeared before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Ann Riviezzo on Friday to enter his guilty plea, with his defense attorney declining to comment on the proceedings. The plea agreement eliminates the possibility of a lengthy trial that could have traumatized surviving family members and community members still recovering from the crimes. Prosecutors emphasized that the sentence ensures Gavin will remain incarcerated for the rest of his natural life, given his advanced age and the minimum 30-year term before any possibility of parole consideration.
Gavin is scheduled for sentencing on May 30, when Justice Riviezzo will formally impose the agreed-upon sentence of 30 years to life in prison. The case will close a dark chapter for residents of the Carter G. Woodson Houses, where fear had gripped elderly tenants who wondered if they could trust anyone offering help in their own building.
