Local Locksmith Alleges Betrayal and Fraud Amidst Health Crisis
In October 2021, local locksmith, writer, and historian Steve Hathcock experienced a severe health setback when he suffered a heart attack, necessitating open-heart surgery on November 2. During his hospitalization, Castine McIlhargey, a close acquaintance, initiated a GoFundMe campaign to aid in covering Hathcock's mounting medical expenses. In a show of community support, more than 78 individuals, including friends, neighbors, and strangers, contributed nearly $5,000 within just 15 days.
Allegations of Misuse of Funds
However, while Hathcock was recovering in the hospital, he claims he was approached by Jody McIntyre, who expressed concerns about outstanding warrants for himself and McIlhargey. Initially McIntyre allegedly asked for 25,000 while Hathcock was still hospitalized, which was later reduced to $10,000, to cover legal fees and prevent the loss of their building. Despite assurances that the borrowed money would be repaid promptly through checks from McIntyre's family, Hathcock states he never received these funds.
Adding to his troubles, Hathcock asserts that the initial $5,000 from the GoFundMe campaign, meant for his medical and personal expenses, was instead deposited into a shared business account and used for personal expenditures by McIntyre and McIlhargey. Hathcock's attempts to reclaim this money were met with resistance and excuses.
Legal and Investigative Challenges
In April 2022, Hathcock took his concerns to the South Padre Island Police Department, providing detailed bank records to Detective Dominguez. Despite the detective forwarding the case to the District Attorney’s office, Hathcock recounts significant delays and a lack of action from Assistant District Attorney Pete Gilman, who deemed the initial investigation report "unintelligible."
Focused on the need for more progress and dismissive responses, Hathcock sought assistance from local officials to no avail. He emphasizes the necessity for local authorities to ensure justice for victims of fraud and financial exploitation.
All documents were provided to the press and thoroughly reviewed with them.
[NOTE: Island Matters held an off-the-record conversation with Jody McIntyre and Castine McIlhargey, during which several undocumented accusations were made. McIntyre and McIlhargey threatened to pursue defamation charges against Island Matters and Hathcock if his letter to the editor was published.]
Recurring Patterns of Financial Misconduct
The troubling narrative does not end with Hathcock. An anonymous couple also came forward and provided pictures and documents, revealing a pattern of similar financial exploitation by McIntyre and McIlhargey.
The couple detailed their experience lending substantial sums to McIntyre and saw it as a business investment opportunity, only to be met with broken promises and eventual bankruptcy declarations from McIntyre, absolving him of repayment obligations. The couple also revealed that they know other people on the island who were similarly exploited by McIntyre and McIlhargey but are still unwilling to tell their stories.
For this couple, the decision to lend money to McIntyre seemed straightforward at the time. McIntyre was a good friend to the couple that had recently moved to the island back in 2017.
"It was also supposed to be a beach recovery donation, and I could see myself helping to do that in a few years. They had some nice vehicles, but they would get rid of them. They had a nice building. So it looked like an opportunity to help a friend out," one of them explained.
In May 2020, they agreed to lend A+ Pro $75,000 in a signed document provided by McIntyre. "It was written up in great legality," one said. They made two payments of $37,500 each totaling to $75,000, but now they express disappointment, saying, "We all signed, he signed as the managing member, but now that there's no such place."
2021
In 2021, the couple claimed that McIntyre confessed A+ Towing could not afford their insurance to keep the trucks running.
"On March 7, 2021, we loaned them $7,500. McIntyre wrote a promissory note stating the amount would be repaid before April 15," the couple said.
They reported seeing McIntyre several times before April 15 and on April 14, but there was no mention of repayment. On April 15, when they called McIntyre, he said he worked in McAllen all day and wouldn’t return until 10 p.m. The couple agreed to wait. When McIntyre returned at 11 p.m., they insisted on getting the check. "We received it that day but had to wait until Monday to see if it cleared. It did," they recalled.
In September, McIntyre contacted them again, asking for another $7,000. One declined, but McIntyre reached out to the other, who agreed since he had repaid the previous loan in April. The couple issued a check on October 3 with the promise that McIntyre and McIlhargey would repay by the end of the month.
However, they have yet to receive the repayment. In December, after incurring unexpected expenses due to a family death, they reached out to McIntyre for their money but were told, "I'm so sorry, but no, we have money issues too."
2022
Despite their frustration, the couple decided to help their friends again by setting up a $500-a-month payment plan. They received a check in January of the following month.
Later, they asked McIntyre and McIlhargey to repay the $7,500 loan. After five months, they managed to get $1,500, but $5,000 was still outstanding.
While working for McIntyre and McIlhargey, the couple noticed the business brought in $1,000 a day, yet their friends still failed to honor the repayment agreement.
2023
In 2023, facing financial difficulties, the couple reached out to McIntyre for just $500, but he declined. Subsequently, McIntyre's company declared bankruptcy, allowing them to escape debt. "Bankruptcy doesn't guarantee you get paid anything back," the couple lamented.
Ominous Voicemail
In September, they received a voicemail from McIntyre:
"Hi, you will probably be receiving a letter in the mail. A+ Recovery and Towing, LLC filed a federal bankruptcy and listed you as a creditor. We’re trying to take care of some assets to get you guys paid for this. Give me a call or text me, but again, I just wanted to see if you received it yet. Thank you very much. Bye."
Despite the situation, the couple wished to avoid antagonizing McIntyre and McIlhargey. "We're not those types of people. We wish we were never involved."
The documentation provided by the couple shows that McIntyre eventually filed for personal bankruptcy, covering the $5,000 owed. However, in bankruptcy court, McIntyre denied any knowledge of the loans.
"That put us over the edge," one of them said. "They're hurting people and having no remorse."
