A YouTuber who believed he had constructed the perfect alibi for the murder of his pregnant partner was exposed after a five-week trial revealed his six-hour gaming live stream was a pre-recorded ruse. Stephen McCullagh, 36, was found guilty of killing Natalie McNally, 32, who was 15 weeks pregnant with his child when she was stabbed, strangled and beaten to death in her home in December 2022.
From his first appearance in court in early 2023, it was clear authorities believed McCullagh had not only murdered McNally but also carefully constructed an elaborate house of cards to avoid justice.
Who Is Stephen McCullagh?
Stephen McCullagh was a content creator with tens of thousands of YouTube subscribers. He described himself as a gamer and streamer who posted videos of himself playing games like Grand Theft Auto and Robot Wars while drinking, vaping and commenting to his audience.
On December 18, 2022, he posted a stream titled “Violent Night,” telling viewers he would host a live gaming session from 6 p.m. He told subscribers he could not interact or respond to comments due to technical problems. But the stream was not live at all. A digital forensic analyst told his trial that evidence indicated the six-hour gaming stream had been recorded four days earlier and was stopped at 12:05 a.m. on December 19, then deleted.
During the time the broadcast was running, McCullagh was actually murdering McNally.
What Happened the Night Natalie McNally Died?
Natalie McNally, 32 and 15 weeks pregnant, had spent December 18 watching the World Cup final with her parents. She and McCullagh exchanged messages just before his stream went live. She told him she would try to “sneak a peek” at it.
By that time, McCullagh was already on the move. He walked two miles from his home in Lisburn to Dunmurry, where he caught a bus to Lurgan, 20 miles away. He wore dark clothes, gloves, and a face covering and carried a green shopping bag. Earlier, he had looked up bus and train timetables.
When he arrived, he walked a mile and a half to McNally’s home at Silverwood Green. Police say the killing happened between 8:50 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. She was stabbed, strangled and suffered at least five heavy blows to the head.
McCullagh’s return journey was captured extensively by CCTV. He changed his clothes before heading back. Prosecutors highlighted images from his social media showing him wearing a black hat and wig that resembled the man in footage walking back through Lurgan town center.
Unable to catch a bus or train, he spotted a parked taxi and convinced the driver he was the one who booked the fare. He rode directly to his home in Lisburn.
How Did He Create His Alibi?
McCullagh’s alibi was built around the pre-recorded live stream. Parts of the recording were played to the jury during his trial. In the time it is believed McNally was attacked, McCullagh played a Grand Theft Auto mission where the player is required to kill a woman.
During that mission, he sang: “I need to kill this bitch, I need to take her down.” About 10 minutes later, he said: “Abso-fucking not-ally, abso-fucking Natalie.” It was his only reference to her by name during the stream.
After the murder, McCullagh texted McNally’s phone and a friend to further embed his alibi. He sent messages suggesting McNally might be angry with him for drinking during her pregnancy and that she might be having difficulties with her diabetes. He also posted a video review of a Star Wars Lightsaber toy.
The next evening, he traveled to Lurgan, apparently to check on McNally, who no one had heard from for almost 24 hours. He called 999 from her home, sobbing. Over a 10-minute call, he told emergency services “she’s gone” and there was “blood everywhere.” He conducted CPR. Prosecutors said it was all an act.
Was He Immediately Arrested?
McCullagh was arrested at the scene but later released. Police initially accepted his alibi. On Christmas Eve, they told him he was no longer viewed as a suspect. The former partner he had accused was also arrested and interviewed but had his own alibi and was released.
In the six weeks that followed, McCullagh acted out the grieving boyfriend. He attended her wake and was given time alone with her. He visited her grave. He messaged her brothers regularly. He made a tribute video montage from old home videos that was played at a rally in her honor.
He even went so far as to leave his phone in the McNally family home to record their private conversations. After 39 minutes, he returned, claiming he had forgotten his phone. He told the court the recording was due to a glitch, but the court heard he had previously recorded a private counseling session of his former partner.
What Did the Trial Reveal?
The five-week trial exposed McCullagh’s lies to a jury. A digital forensic analyst confirmed the live stream was pre-recorded. The jury saw the pre-recorded gameplay, heard the chilling references to killing a woman and to Natalie by name, and viewed CCTV footage of his journey to and from Lurgan.
McCullagh did not take the stand during his trial. He offered no explanation for the pre-recorded live stream.
Why Did He Do It?
The exact motive remains unclear because McCullagh denied the murder and did not testify. But the court heard that in the months leading up to her death, McNally had been messaging other men. Some messages were sexually explicit. One man told the court she had said, the week before her death, that she was considering breaking up with McCullagh in the new year.
The court heard it was believed McCullagh had accessed McNally’s phone and read these messages. He had previously been arrested for assaulting an ex-girlfriend after reading messages on her phone.
But jealousy only partially explains the extent of the murderous plan McCullagh set in motion. Prosecutors described it as a cold and calculating house of cards that eventually came crashing down.
FAQs: Stephen McCullagh and the Natalie McNally Case
Q: Who is Stephen McCullagh?
A: A 36-year-old YouTuber and content creator found guilty of murdering his pregnant partner Natalie McNally in December 2022.
Q: How did he try to create an alibi?
A: He posted a six-hour gaming live stream that appeared to show him playing video games on the night of the murder. It was actually pre-recorded four days earlier.
Q: What happened to Natalie McNally?
A: She was stabbed, strangled, and beaten to death in her home. She was 15 weeks pregnant with McCullagh’s child.
Q: Did police initially suspect him?
A: He was arrested at the scene but released. Police told him on Christmas Eve he was no longer a suspect.
Q: What did he do after the murder?
A: He attended her wake, visited her grave, made a tribute video, and even recorded her family’s private conversations by leaving his phone in their home.
Q: What evidence was presented at trial?
A: The pre-recorded live stream, CCTV footage of his journey, messages he sent to create an alibi, and evidence that he had accessed McNally’s phone.
Q: Did he take the stand?
A: No. He denied the murder and did not testify.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
