Tri-State Manhunt in Triple Slaying
Sept. 21, 2005 — -- FBI and local authorities in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois are looking for a man suspected of killing three people, including a child who was involved in a sex abuse investigation against him.
Authorities have been searching for Melvin Keeling since Monday, when 13-year-old Katelind Caudill was found shot to death in her bedroom in Deerfield Township, Ohio.
Authorities believe Katelind, a friend of Keeling's oldest stepdaughter, became involved in a sex abuse investigation of Keeling within two days of her death. Katelind was not a victim in the case, authorities said. It was unclear how she was involved.
Keeling is also suspected in the fatal shooting of two store clerks in Remington, Ind. Lisa Kendall, 29, and Kendora Furr, 38, were found shot Monday morning by a customer. Investigators say surveillance video showed a man believed to be Keeling attempting to buy cigarettes.
"There were no signs of resistance from the two victims," said Terry Risner, chief deputy sheriff of Jasper County, Ind. "I just believe this subject is an extremely violent subject and things -- for whatever reason -- didn't move fast enough. And he took this drastic action."
Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel deflected criticism that Keeling should have been arrested earlier, saying the investigation had not been completed.
"You cannot go arrest someone until you've investigated the case," Hutzel said. "At the same time, could the investigator on the case, 32 hours into it, have predicted this, given this guy's history? I don't think so."
In addition to potential murder charges, Keeling faces two counts of rape and 24 counts of gross sexual imposition. Federal authorities in Cincinnati have also filed a warrant charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
A Potential Trail, A Community on Edge
Police say they have made some progress in tracking Keeling and say they have "credible" information that he may be in Cincinnati. On Tuesday, they said they found his alleged getaway van abandoned in Gary, Ind., just outside Chicago, approximately 60 miles from Remington.
ABC News affiliate WCPO reported that Keeling was employed at the Ford Motor Company in Sharonville, Ohio, and that security there has been increased. As the manhunt continues, police are monitoring his neighborhood in Cincinnati and residents in Katelind's neighborhood are on edge.
"I've lived here for 28 years and for the first time I've locked my door," Mike Carpenter told WCPO.
Authorities have urged anyone with information on Melvin Keeling's whereabouts to call Crimestoppers at (513) 352-3040.
ABC News affiliate WCPO in Cincinnati contributed to this report.