Former NFL Hopeful, College Star Admits Strangling Girlfriend: Police

ACCOKEEK, MD— A high school football coach from Georgia has been charged in connection to the fatal strangulation of his girlfriend in her Accokeek home.

At around 9:20 a.m. Feb. 17, Carl Kearney, Jr., 43, walked into the Prince George's Division V Clinton police station and told officers he had strangled his girlfriend in her home earlier that morning. Police officers went to the home, located in the 800 block of St. James Court, to check on her. They found Patrina Best, 38, unresponsive. She was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the police department.

During an interview with detectives, Kearney confessed to strangling the victim during an argument. He told officials he tried slapping her in the face to "bring her back" before he fled the scene, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. He has been charged with first- and second-degree murder and related charges.

Kearney is the head coach of the Spalding High School varsity football team and Best was a graduate of Georgia Southern University, reports FOX 5 Atlanta. Kearney was born and raised in Griffin and played for the high school team in the '90s before being hired as the head coach in 2020.

Sports Illustrated said Kearney spent parts of two NFL training camps (2004 and 2005) with the the New York Jets, appearing in preseason games each season, but he never made an active regular-season roster.

Sports Illustrated noted that Kearney was the winner of Georgia High School Football Daily’s Class 4A coaches; award for Most Improved Team in AAAA following the 2023 season. Spalding went 13-1 last season, reaching the AAAA quarterfinals. The Jaguars also won their first region title in 20 years. Kearney turned around a program that had gone 1-9 the previous season as his teams advanced playoff rounds in 2021, 2022 and 2023, an unprecedented streak in school history.

Spalding High School parents, students and alums were stunned when they learned of the incident, reports FOX 5 Atlanta.

"Hurt. Shocked. It was like disbelief because I didn't want to believe that what they was saying was true," said Lariquia McCord whose son was a former player on Kearney's varsity team. "It hits hard. It takes your breath. He was more like a father figure for him (her son). A lot of times he encouraged him when he was really, really low."

Anyone with information on this case who would like to speak to a detective can call 301-516-2512.