Twin Brother Wants Justice For Grand Lake Hit And Run Victim

Tuesday, August 15th 2006, 10:00 am

By: News On 6

The twin brother of man killed in a Grand Lake boat wreck speaks out for the first time. 35-year-old Murray McGarvey was killed in nighttime hit and run last month. He was at Grand Lake on vacation from his home in Georgia.

McGarvey's brother, Kevin, is in Tulsa trying to find some answers. He tells News on 6 reporter Jennifer Loren about his brother and what he hopes will happen next.

The last photograph ever taken of Murray McGarvey is at Grand Lake celebrating his godson's birthday. Now, more than two weeks later, his identical twin Kevin is in Oklahoma, searching for answers in his brother's death. Kevin McGarvey: "I'm here on behalf of my family and the entire community who's really grieving pretty hard about all this."

The McGarvey brothers are well known in their hometown of Brunswick, Georgia. Kevin runs their Irish Pub. Murray ran their real estate business. Murray was known as a fun-loving person and a genuine friend. "We just know he lived a good life. We know where he is right now and he's here with me always. With us being twins you know, I tell my friends 'donâ€™t get upset. Don't be sad. Because as long as I'm here part of him will be here as well.'"

When Kevin left for Oklahoma he had one goal. He wanted to find his brother's body. It hadn't been recovered from the lake since the wreck. But as Kevin's plane touched the ground Monday, search teams were already pulling Murray's body from the water. "I told my dad yesterday morning and I said I'm coming out to get Murray and that's what I did. They found him as soon as the plane landed. We're very happy for that, very relieved."

Now Kevin is focused on the investigation. He thinks someone is responsible for his brother's death. Since it was a hit and run, he thinks that person should spend time behind bars. "We've got to find out what happened here and who's responsible. Because like I said, itâ€™s not just myself. There's a whole community grieving. There's people in Georgia who want answers. We're out here to ensure that gets done."

He says he knows Murray would do the same for him.

The investigation into the accident continues. The GRDA Lake Patrol says the owner of the boat that was in the hit and run has been identified as John Special of Stillwater. No charges have been filed against Special.

The McGarvey brothers are proud graduates of the Citadel Military College in South Carolina. The family is setting up a scholarship in Murray's name at the Citadel.