Wanted For:

• UFAP
  Warren County , OH
• Murder (2 cts.)
  Jasper County , IN
• Rape (2 cts.)
  Warren County , OH
• Gross Sexual Imposition (33 cts.)
  Warren County , OH
• More»

Latest Airing:

• October 01 2005
• September 24 2005

Related Links:

Three Found Dead, Police Suspect Same Killer

Cops say 43-year-old Melvin Keeling's killing spree began on Monday, September 19, 2005 in Warren County Ohio, where he allegedly shot and killed 13-year-old Katie Caudill. Police say Katie's grandmother heard shots around 6:45 a.m., and found the young girl's body in her bedroom.

Keeling then traveled to Indiana, where police say he killed his next victims - 29-year-old Lisa Kendall and 38-year-old Kendora Furr. Police say the two women were working as clerks at the Family Express store in Remington, Indiana when Keeling entered around 10 a.m. and shot them. Cops say a customer found the women inside the convenience store dead behind the counter.

Cops were able to identify Keeling as the murder suspect based on surveillance camera footage at the Family Express convenience store. Once they had their suspect, a nationwide search for the alleged murderer began.

Cops say Keeling was driving a 2000 silver Ford Windstar with Ohio license plates DW19AW -- but officials located the van in Gary, Indiana.

Proof The Fugitive Is Alive And Running?

After a week without confirmed sightings of Keeling, police began to suspect that the fugitive may have killed himself.

On September 28th, more than a dozen investigators on the Keeling task force combed the woods in Gary and found the fugitive's wallet, ID and other personal items a few blocks from where Keeling abandoned his van. Tracking dogs also followed Keeling's scent from the wooded area to nearby train tracks. 

Nearly one month later, those same investigators continued the search in the woods near the abandoned van and wallet. 

Keeling's Possible Motives

According to police, Katie's murder may have been the result of some of Keeling's other charges -- allegations that had nothing to do with murder. According to police, Keeling is wanted on sexual charges against a child -- and Katie was involved in the investigation. Police say Katie wasn't the alleged victim in any of those charges, but the girl was reportedly serving as a witness against Keeling.

Keeling lived in the home right behind Katie's. In July, when Keeling had trouble paying his electric bill, Katie's family ran an extension cord into Keeling's home so he would have electricity.

On September 26, 2005, a grand jury in Warren County, OH charged Keeling with two counts of rape and 33 counts of gross sexual imposition.

Wanted For:

• UFAP , Warren County , OH ; Sep 19, 2005
• Murder (2 cts.) , Jasper County , IN ; Sep 20, 2005
• Rape (2 cts.) , Warren County , OH ; Sep 22, 2005
• Gross Sexual Imposition (33 cts.) , Warren County , OH ; Sep 22, 2005

(Information valid as of January 23, 2007)

Associated Persons:

Katie Caudill
Katie Caudill, 13, was gunned down in her home as she got ready for school
Victim
»More information

Related Links:

Keeling's Boyhood Friend Speaks Exclusively With AMW »

Television Airings:

• »October 1, 2005
• »September 24, 2005

AMW Radio:

• »September 30 2005
• »September 22 2005

Keeling's Body Found In Indiana

On October 19, 2005, just yards away from where Melvin Keeling's wallet and abandoned van were found, two children discovered a badly decomposed body. Now, through dental records and forensics, the body that was found 100 yards outside a previously searched area, has been identified as that of accused triple murderer Melvin Keeling.

According to authorities, Keeling shot and killed 13-year-old Katie Caudill in Loveland, OH and then drove to an Indiana convenience store where he shot 29-year-old Lisa Kendall and 38-year-old Kendora Furr.

An Indiana coroner - nearly a month after Keeling's alleged killing spree began - performed an autopsy and found that Keeling died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A handgun was also found next to the body with a serial number that matched one Keeling owned.