Roy McGrath Didn't Plan To Appear In Court Before Death: Report

BALTIMORE, MD — Roy McGrath — former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's ex-chief of staff, who died in an exchange of gunfire with FBI agents earlier this month — had no plans to travel from his Florida home to Baltimore to appear in court on federal fraud charges.

According to an FBI search warrant obtained by the Baltimore Banner, McGrath did not buy a plane ticket or make any reservations to travel from Naples to Baltimore for his March 13 arraignment before his criminal trial.

The lack of preparation suggests McGrath's absence at his court date was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, according to the Banner.

After failing to appear in court, McGrath, 53, was considered a fugitive and sought by federal officials. After he was captured weeks later in Knoxville, Tennessee, McGrath shot himself in an exchange of gunfire with FBI agents; however, it's unclear who fired the fatal shot.

The investigation into his death continues.

Before his death, reports revealed that federal authorities were searching the southern United States for McGrath, who was facing an eight-count federal indictment on charges of wire fraud, including securing a $233,648 severance payment equal to one year of salary as the head of Maryland Environmental Service, according to the Department of Justice. Authorities said McGrath falsified a document that appeared to be from Hogan approving the severance payment.

McGrath also faced fraud and embezzlement charges connected to roughly $170,000 in expenses, according to The Associated Press.

Hogan appointed McGrath in 2016 as executive director of Maryland Environmental Service. McGrath resigned from the agency on May 31, 2020, and became Hogan's chief of staff a day later.

Charges were filed against McGrath in the fall of 2021. He was released pending trial and allowed to travel between Maryland and Florida. Other travel required approval by federal officials.

When McGrath didn't show up to his arraignment, police checked his home in Naples, Florida, but he wasn't there, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest.

A day later, the U.S. Marshals Service said they launched an interstate manhunt for McGrath.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.