How Kevin D. Monahan Killed an Innocent Woman in His Driveway

The sad story of Kaylin Gillis

By Rare StoriesPublished 2 months ago • Updated 2 months ago • 4 min read

Edit: Please the man in the image above is not Kevin D. Monahan. The man in the photo is Andrew Daniel Lester, who shot a black teen through the door 2 times when the boy accidentally went to the wrong address in KC, MO. The correct photo of Kevin Monahan is shown later in the story.

A 20-year-old woman Kaylin Gillis lost her life on April 15, 2023, in Hebron, New York, after the vehicle she was in was mistakenly driven into the wrong driveway.

Kevin D. Monahan who was in his house when two vehicles entered his driveway felt threatened and made attempts to protect himself. The occupants of the vehicle realized their mistake and were on their way out when Monahan fired shots at them. Tragically, one of the bullets hit Kaylin Gillis, and she lost her life before the emergency team could get to her.

Following an hour-long standoff, Kevin D. Monahan, the man behind the shooting, was apprehended and placed under arrest. Eventually, on January 23, 2024, Monahan was found guilty of second-degree murder and subsequently received a prison sentence of 25 years to life on March 1, 2024.

The Incident

Tragically, on the evening of April 15, 2023, shortly before 10 p.m., Kaylin Gillis lost her life in Washington County, a county located in upstate New York that shares a border with Vermont. Gillis and her companions were in search of a friend's residence at the time.

Kaylin Gillis, her boyfriend, and two others were traveling in their vehicle, which was being driven by her boyfriend. Due to a mix-up, their car, along with another vehicle, inadvertently entered the driveway of Kevin D. Monahan's residence. Monahan resided in a rural area known as Hebron, specifically on Patterson Hill Road, situated on a ridgetop plot.

Upon realizing their mistake of entering the incorrect driveway, the group promptly acknowledged their mistake and started reversing their vehicle to leave. Gillis was among the four people in the last car to leave the driveway.

The driveway at Kevin Monahan’s residence on Patterson Hill Road where the shooting took place.

While the group was in the process of departing, Monahan emerged from his residence and discharged two rounds from a 20-gauge shotgun at the vehicle.

Tragically, one of the shots struck Gillis in the neck. Due to the lack of cell phone reception in Hebron, the group drove towards the nearby town of Salem to contact emergency services through 9-1-1. Unfortunately, Gillis succumbed to her injuries before medical assistance could reach her.

Upon the arrival of police officers and state troopers at Monahan's residence, he initially resisted surrendering to the authorities. A tense hour-long standoff ensued, during which Monahan engaged in phone conversations with both a police dispatcher and his legal representative. However, he eventually decided to surrender.

The encounter between Monahan and the police was documented by eight police body-worn cameras, providing a comprehensive record of the incident. As per court documents filed in Washington County Court, Monahan initially asserted to the police that he had been in bed since 8:30 p.m. and insinuated that the responsibility for the tragic incident lay with hunters.

Kevin D. Monahan, who was born on October 28, 1957, faced charges relating to the killing. Monahan, a native of Salem, New York, had spent his childhood in the area. According to accounts from longstanding neighbors, Monahan was often characterized as exhibiting hostility, a sour demeanor, and occasional aggression.

Trial and Sentencing

During his first arraignment at the Washington County Court on April 16, 2023, on charges of second-degree murder; Monahan entered a plea of not guilty.

At a subsequent hearing the following day, bail was denied based on the prosecuting attorney's argument that Monahan's history of being confrontational and hot-tempered, coupled with the gravity of the offense, supported the need for pretrial detention.

In May 2023, a new indictment was issued, which increased the charges against Monahan. Alongside the original second-degree murder charge, he was also accused of reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence.

Additionally, the murder charge was downgraded from "intentional murder" to "reckless depraved indifference murder." Despite this modification, the court once again rejected Monahan's plea for bond.

Monahan's trial began on January 8, 2024.

On January 23, 2024, he was found guilty of second-degree murder. Subsequently, on March 1, 2024, he received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.