Gwinnett jury convicts Loganville father in death of daughter, years of child abuse

Father receives 4 life sentences plus 120 Mother was sentenced earlier to 90 years

A Gwinnett County jury has found William Linn McCue guilty of felony murder, two counts of rape, three counts of aggravated child molestation, and two counts of incest in connection with the 2022 death of his 10-year-old daughter, Zoe McCue, and years of abuse involving her and her siblings.

McCue was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, followed by a fourth life sentence and an additional 120 years in prison.

The conviction stems from a case that shocked the Loganville community after a fatal house fire on Beaver Road in April 2022 claimed the life of Zoe McCue. Firefighters responding to the blaze discovered the child’s body inside a bathroom where investigators later said she had been confined. Authorities determined the fire had been intentionally set, leading to the arrest of Zoe’s 15-year-old brother on murder and arson charges.

As investigators examined the home, they uncovered what prosecutors described as severe abuse and neglect affecting all five children living in the residence. Court documents alleged the children were deprived of running water, forced to use buckets as toilets, subjected to physical punishment, prolonged standing on cinder blocks, food deprivation, and isolation from one another. Investigators also reported finding a makeshift bed inside the bathroom where Zoe was discovered after the fire.

In June 2022, William McCue and his wife, Carina McCue, were arrested after authorities tracked them to the Appalachian Trail following a weeks-long search. Both were initially charged with cruelty to children and false imprisonment before a Gwinnett grand jury later returned felony murder indictments.

The Gwinnett District Attorney’s Office said the verdict reflects its commitment to protecting children, supporting victims, and holding offenders accountable for the harm they inflict.

“The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office remains steadfast in its mission to seek justice for victims, safeguard vulnerable members of our community, and ensure those who commit crimes against children ace the full consequences of their actions,” the GCDA’s office wrote in announcing the conviction.

Carina McCue, the children’s mother, previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including cruelty to children, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. She testified for the prosecution against her husband and was sentenced to 90 years in prison for her role in the abuse of the children. The then 15-year old brother who set the fire, allegedly as a way to escape the abuse in the home, was dealt with through the juvenile system.

The case remains one of the most disturbing child abuse investigations in recent Gwinnett County history, exposing years of alleged mistreatment that authorities say ultimately contributed to the death of a 10-year-old girl.

Click or tap on this link for initial reports that gives background information on the case as it was unfolding.