U.S. Air Force Major Andre McDonald was convicted of manslaughter in January 2023 for the death of his wife Andreen McDonald in San Antonio, Texas, following a contentious marriage marked by business disputes and escalating conflict.

Andreen McDonald, 29, vanished late on February 28, 2019, after an argument with her husband over a business disagreement. Text messages that evening showed Andre messaging, "All you do is scheme, but I'm no fool." Her phone went dead shortly after midnight on March 1, 2019, marking the last contact with the victim.

Andreen's mother, Maureen, reported her missing after failing to reach her daughter. Deputies from Bexar County Sheriff's Office responded to the couple's home in the Stone Oak gated community, where Andre provided conflicting statements and subsequently refused further cooperation, retaining legal counsel.

The couple had married in 2009 after meeting in Port Antonio, Jamaica. They relocated to San Antonio around 2012, where they built a successful home health business and raised their daughter, Alayna. However, tensions over finances and business ownership—particularly allegations that Andreen was hiding assets or operating a separate business in her name only—created deep rifts in their relationship.

Andreen's remains were discovered in July 2019 on private property in far north Bexar County by a local resident, more than four months after her disappearance.

Andre McDonald was indicted in October 2019 on charges of first-degree felony murder and tampering with evidence. The trial began with jury selection on January 17, 2023, with opening statements delivered on January 23, 2023.

During the trial, testimony from Andre's sister-in-law Cindy Johnson revealed that he had confessed to killing Andreen over disputes involving hidden assets and business control. In his own testimony, Andre claimed the incident began when Andreen punched him during an argument. He stated he tripped her, kicked her twice, and heard wheezing sounds from her. After flames subsided—suggesting a fire had occurred—Andre testified he struck her corpse multiple times with a yellow hammer, targeting her face and neck, and delivered one final blow while walking away. He admitted to burning her clothes and placing her body in a vehicle.

The jury deliberated after the prosecution and defense presented their cases. Judge Frank Castro issued an Allen Charge to encourage unanimity among jurors, including any holdouts. After approximately one additional hour of deliberation following this instruction, the jury returned its verdict.

Andre McDonald was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter, a significant reduction from the original first-degree felony murder charge. Had he been convicted of murder, he faced a potential sentence ranging from 5 to 99 years or life imprisonment.

Throughout the legal proceedings, Andre McDonald remained on active or reserve status with the U.S. Air Force, holding the rank of Major. The Air Force Reserve did not initiate disciplinary action following his arrest by Bexar County Sheriff's Office or his subsequent conviction.

The case drew international attention as an example of domestic violence escalating to fatal consequences, complicated by financial disputes and business interests within the marriage.

**Sources:** - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/andreen-mcdonald-san-antonio-andre-mcdonald-convicted-manslaughter-48-hours/ - https://www.aetv.com/articles/murder-andreen-mcdonald - https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/today-day-2-of-trial-of-former-air-force-major-accused-of-murdering-his-wife-in-2019-san-antonio-texas-court-charges-murder-arrested - https://www.ksat.com/video/news/2023/01/18/new-details-revealed-during-pretrial-hearing-in-case-of-air-force-major-accused-of-killing-his-wife/