High school football coach arrested after strangling his girlfriend to death, police say

ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - A Georgia high school football coach was arrested after allegedly killing his girlfriend in Maryland on Saturday, according to Prince George’s County Police Department,

Carl Kearney, Jr., 43, walked into the Division V Clinton police station and confessed to officers that he had strangled his girlfriend earlier that morning at her home, authorities said.

Kearney is the head football coach at Spalding High School in Griffin, Georgia.

The victim, identified as 38-year-old Patrina Best, was found unresponsive by officers who responded to the home for a welfare check. She was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

During questioning by detectives, Kearney admitted to strangling Best during an altercation.

Kearney faces charges of first- and second-degree murder along with related offenses.