Nine months into Sheriff Josh Tietge’s term, both his office and the family of Brittany McMahon say they’re doing everything they can to move her case forward. But for Susan and Randy McMahon, the wait for answers about their daughter’s death has stretched into growing frustration and fading trust.
Earlier this summer, Chief Deputy Adam Marsh said he submitted additional evidence for testing to ensure nothing was overlooked in the 2022 investigation into McMahon’s death.
Brittany McMahon’s remains were found July 3, 2022, on private property, weeks after the 33-yearold was reported missing. Her cause of death was ruled a suicide, though the autopsy report said the cause of death was undetermined.
“The sheriff promised that all unsolved or suspicious cases would get a fresh look,” Marsh told the Bulletin in an article published in June. “I’ve sent evidence for further DNA testing, and if anything contradicts the original findings of suicide, we’ll reopen the case.”
Susan McMahon said she and her husband were told DNA testing results would return in six months, but Marsh said he never gave the McMahons a firm timeframe.
“First off, I personally did not give them a sixmonth timeframe for the DNA results,” Marsh said. “The DPS Crime Laboratory gave me the six-month timeframe, which I relayed to the McMahons. We have no control over the process or timeframe in which it takes DPS to get us results from their DNA lab.”
Marsh added that the July 4 Texas floods slowed the timeline, as the lab prioritized identifying victims.
But the McMahons’ frustrations go beyond DNA testing.
Susan provided Marsh with a voice recording in hopes of identifying the female voice on it. She believes the voice is Brittany’s — crying and screaming for an unidentified man to “stop” while a male voice is heard laughing.
“On April 24, Marsh told us that he was going to send that recording to the FBI in Quantico for identification,” Susan said. “Turns out, he never did.”
A text message from Marsh that same day indicated he planned to contact the FBI the following Monday to begin the analysis process.
However, Marsh said another woman later came forward claiming the voice on the recording was hers.
“After investigating the ‘voice recording,’ we were able to identify that the female voice on the recording was from a Hispanic female, and not Brittany McMahon,” Marsh said. “Therefore, there was no reason to submit the recording to the FBI. I told Susan McMahon that the voice on the recording was not Brittany, but Susan refused to accept that.”
Susan said she and Randy do not believe Marsh’s conclusion.
“I’ve listened to it, and it’s her,” she said. “Don’t you think a mother would know her daughter’s voice?”
With the case not yet reopened, the McMahons’ confidence in the sheriff’s office is fading.
“No answers after nine months,” Susan said. “It’s very frustrating.”
Through the McMahons’ criticism, Marsh said he remains sympathetic toward the family.
“I will not even pretend to know what they are going through,” Marsh said. “I truly do empathize with the McMahons.”
.png)
