Daniel Tate, 20, was found guilty of murdering 17-year-old Olivia Mackay. The jury took just over ninety minutes to deliberate.
Tate met Mackay online and lured her to a beach in Kenosha with her car. Tate then jumped behind and strangled Mackay underwater, dragged her body, put her in a garbage bag while wearing gloves, and stuffed her into her own vehicle and sped off. Tate’s best friend, Jamari Cook, was also on the scene of the murder. Cook later testified that Tate was the killer. Cook is also facing charges. The two later dumped Mackay's body on Louis Sorenson Road in Mount Pleasant. The gloves Tate wore were never tested for his DNA and his DNA was never found on the garbage bag. Although similar garbage bags were found at Tate’s Grandmother’s house; where he was staying. Cook’s DNA was found on the garbage bag. Cook is hoping for leniency in his trial for testifying against Tate.
Before the murder of Mackay, Tate was messaging other women, one of whom was giving birth to Tate’s unborn child at Wheaton Franciscan Hospital in Racine. He told them he needed a new “whip (car);” And that it was going to happen “Soon AF (as fu**).” Hours later Mackay was killed and her car was stolen. After the murder, text messages show Tate was trying to sell the vehicle for between $500-$900.
In messages after the murder between Tate and Cook, Cook complained of “back problems” while Tate said he was “bored af (as fu**)” and complained of “bug bites" from being outside.
During closing arguements District Attorney Mike Gravely told the jury “Your eyes would have to be closed not to see that the defendant in this case is guilty.”
The defense argued that social media messages are not always 100 percent authentic because you cannot see if messages are being sent and received authentically and that reasonable doubt is something that should be strongly considered because of the lack of DNA evidence in the trial.
A little more than ninety minutes later the jury found Tate guilty on all charges: first degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, and taking and driving a vehicle without consent.
Tate was motionless and emotionless as the verdict was read. Once court was dismissed, Tate did not look back at the gallery. Tate’s family and friends were visibly weeping; one woman shaking seemingly beyond the point of control. Mackay’s parents and family were also in tears.
Tate will be sentenced August 20th.
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