‘I lost a piece of myself’: Family of construction company owner speaks out after employee is charged in his death

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The family of Chapin Michael McRee, 29, is speaking publicly a day after learning new details about his death. McRee was killed March 18. One of his employees has been accused of murdering him.

“It’s truly like I lost a piece of myself. And I don’t ever know if I’ll feel whole again,” said Courtney O’Rear, McRee’s mother.

O’Rear said the family does not know why he was killed. She described her son as someone who treated his employees with kindness, saying he had hired his alleged killer James Barla part-time as a favor.

McRee and the employee were working on renovating a community clubhouse together at the time.

McRee was stabbed five times on Blue Jay Road while riding with an employee from his construction company.

McRee’s wife, Kaycie Stewart, said she learned what happened through her father, who lives nearby.

“He called me back and informed me what happened and since that day I’ve been completely shattered,” Stewart said. “I’ve lost the love of my life, the father of my kids, and my whole person.”

McRee leaves behind two children — Christopher, 4, and Charlie, 8 months.

Early years

Family members said McRee faced significant challenges early in life, including homelessness and abuse. Courtney O’Rear said she met him when he was 7 years old as an evacuee from Hurricane Katrina.

“The moment I met him, his infectious smile and bubbly spirit immediately won my heart,” O’Rear said.

She said he was known as “Smiles” in elementary school and “happy chappy” in college — and the family is now trying to hold onto that positivity while grieving.

“He was a servant-leader”

Family members say McRee had a special place in his heart for the unhoused and hurricane victims.

When he was 10, his mother said they would spend the day at a homeless ministry once a month.

“There were two older men that lived down by the river that Michael clung to,” O’Rear said.

He would invite those men to dinner every month, and O’Rear says they’d say no because they claimed to be too dirty.

One time, before they left to the ministry, Michael was nowhere to be found. Eventually, his mom found him covered in dirt out in their pasture.

“I said ‘Michael, you’ve got to get changed we’re about to go,’” O’Rear said. “And he said ‘no, I’m going to go dirty because I want to be like Mr. Willy.”

Michael insisted that Mr. Willy - his friend from the river - join them for dinner.

Finally, after enough coaxing, he was able to get the group to a Golden Corral.

“Mr. Willy sat down and started eating with his hands, and so Michael put his napkin away, placed his utensils to the side and start eating with his hands,” O’Rear said. “Even as a little boy, he knew what people needed.”

A family man

Despite being taken in by his mother Courtney O’Rear, Michael still yearned for a family of his own.

Kaycie recalled the first time she saw him when she was 14. She said she had an instant crush on him.

Once Michael became a father to his two kids, Kaycie says his world changed.

“Every second he could, he was with them,” Kaycie said. “Him and Christopher were two peas in a pod, and Charlie adored him. Even though she was just eight months, she knew who her daddy was.”

Community support

A GoFundMe for Stewart and the children has raised more than $16,000, the family said. They also credited friends, extended family and coworkers for stepping in to help.

One of the biggest sources of support, according to O’Rear, has been another coworker McRee hired.

“He’s ready to be there every day because he loved Michael so much and was so good to him,” she said.

Stewart has moved in with Courtney and McRee’s father, Casey O’Rear, the family said. They said they have received support from hundreds of people and hope the investigation and legal process move quickly.