Slain Prince George's County Nurse Was A 'Constant Source Of Joy': Family

ACCOKEEK, MD — Described by her family as "the light of our lives," Patrina Best's unexpected death has stunned her loved ones.

At around 9:20 a.m. Feb. 17, Carl Kearney Jr., 43, of Griffin, Georgia, walked into the Prince George's Division V Clinton police station and told officers he had strangled his girlfriend in her Accokeek 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 Best, 38, unresponsive. She was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the police department.

However, Best's family told FOX 5 DC she and Kearney were friends from college and he was helping her move things from her parents' home when the altercation occurred. They were not a couple, the Best family said.

In a statement, the family described Patrina as "a constant source of joy and laughter in our lives."

She was the daughter of a U.S. Navy chief petty officer and a Georgia Southern University graduate who worked as a travel nurse, specializing in the operating room.

"She was guaranteed to be present for every birthday, holiday, and special occasion," her family said in the statement. "She was the light of our lives, and we will miss her dearly for the rest of our days."

During an interview with detectives, Kearney confessed to strangling Best 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. Kearney left the scene in Best's car and traveled to Virginia, where he called police to confess to the crime, authorities said.

He has been charged with first- and second-degree murder and related charges, according to the Prince George's Police Department.

Kearney is the head coach of the Spalding High School varsity football team, reported FOX 5 Atlanta. He was born and raised in Griffin and played for the high school team in the 1990s 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.

"Ms. Best was a nurse who cared for others, who helped to preserve life. And now her life has been taken away in such a heinous fashion," said Prince George’s County State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy.

Patrina Best leaves behind her family including her parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece, nephew and her dog, Luke.

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