TN McKamey Manor haunted attraction owner sees criminal charges against him dropped
Several criminal charges against the owner of a controversial Tennessee haunted attraction were dropped Monday after a court hearing in Lawrence County.
Russ McKamey was facing second-degree attempted murder, rape and domestic violence after his July 19 arrest . At the time, police said McKamey strangled a woman identified as his girlfriend and raped her during a domestic altercation.
The Tennessean does not name victims of sexual assault.
McKamey's attorney Davis Griffin issued a statement via email Monday after a Lawrence County General Sessions Court spokesperson confirmed the charges were dropped against his client.
"After District Attorney General Brent Cooper personally reviewed the evidence we collected over the past two months and spoke with Mr. McKamey's accuser, who was present in person this morning, he decided to voluntarily and unconditionally dismiss all four charges against Mr. McKamey because the allegations had no merit whatsoever," Griffin wrote. "General Cooper's diligence and professionalism in his decision is commendable. I previously said the truth would come out. General Cooper's unqualified decision should tell you everything you need to know."
McKamey Manor under fire
McKamey Manor, the haunted attraction in Summertown, Tenn. — about 70 miles from Nashville — garnered national attention after it was featured in a Hulu documentary , but the exposure led to concerns from Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who launched an investigation into its business practices.
McKamey said state officials demanded that he appear to answer questions not long after the documentary aired, leading him to file a lawsuit March 29 against Skrmetti and Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and State Fire Marshal Commissioner Carter Lawrence.
He argued that Skrmetti and Lawrence could not compel him to talk to the state's Attorney General.
The lawsuit was dismissed Aug. 22, according to court records.
"We have filed a motion respectfully asking the Court to reconsider the dismissal of Mr. McKamey's case against Defendants Skrmetti and Lawrence," Griffin said.
It is not the only pending litigation McKamey is involved in.
On Aug. 30, McKamey filed a motion to dismiss his lawsuit against Hulu and production company North of Now Film and TV while maintaining his lawsuit against Justin Yerace, an interview subject who participated in the documentary.
"The Media Defendants, including Hulu and the production company North of Now, were dismissed from the case voluntarily by Mr. McKamey because the dispute between Mr. McKamey and the Media Defendants has been resolved amicably and satisfactorily," Griffin said.
Yerace previously told The Tennessean in April that he was advised not to discuss the lawsuit but said McKamey Manor "(has) been abusing people and scamming people for years now, and I will do what I legally can to make sure people know the truth and to try and prevent people from becoming victims."
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