Israel Keyes Investigated for Possible Lower 48 Murders

Alleged murderer of Samantha Koenig, Keyes, brings up questions in Lower 48

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By Heather Hintze
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Story Created: Jul 31, 2012 at 8:13 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 1, 2012 at 11:33 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Six months after 18-year-old Samantha Koenig was kidnapped and murdered, authorities are investigating to see if her accused killer, Israel Keyes, could be connected to other cases on the East Coast.

Two weeks ago a Vermont television station, WCAX, reported Keyes might be connected to the disappearance and murder of a couple there.

WCAX reported on June 8, 2011 Keyes checked into a hotel in Essex, Vermont – the same day Bill and Lorraine Currier went missing. Keyes checked out the following day.

Investigators have not yet named a suspect, but gave a few details at a press conference. “The person believed to have committed the murders is in custody in another state and will stay in custody,” said Tristam Coffin, U.S. Attorney for Vermont.

On July 25, 11-year-old Celina Cass went missing from her home in West Stewartstown, New Hampshire. Her body was found in the Connecticut River not far from the Canadian border.

WCAX confirmed Israel Keyes owns a cabin in Constable, New York, which is on the Canadian border. It’s also a four-hour drive from West Stewartstown and an hour and a half from Essex.

Over the weekend the New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General, Jane Young, publicly acknowledged for the first time that investigators were gathering information about Keyes.

“State Police are aware of Mr. Keyes and they are being provided information through the FBI. Everybody is looked at in these case,” Young told a New Hampshire paper on Sunday.

The Anchorage Police Department said when a person is in custody it’s crucial investigators look at every place the person’s been.

“It is very important obviously if a person has committed crimes in another place that they be held responsible for that,” said Lieutenant Dave Parker.

Parker also said it’s important to remember Keyes has only been charged with Koenig’s kidnapping and murder. So far authorities have made no on-the-record connections between him and the East Coast cases.

 

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TedtheBear said on Tuesday, Jul 31 at 8:34 PM

Would it be politically incorrect to say that we should just hang this fellow in Delaney Park for Koenig's death and save the people of Vermont and NH some money...after we get a confession out of him on those crime??

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SourdoughAl said on Tuesday, Jul 31 at 8:49 PM

Heather, do you know the difference between boarder and border?

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peggy giles said on Wednesday, Aug 1 at 12:48 AM

We (the team that worked on Samantha's Page) have started a page on FB we hope you all will share, it is called "Have you ever met Israel Keyes? Possible serial killer" the page has been set up to gather information of Keyes where abouts and other disappearances that have happened when he has been around. Please visit the page and share it with your friends. I hope is to give other families of missing some closer if he has been involved in anymore dissappearance and assist the FBI in the collection of evidence.

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akmediascope said on Thursday, Aug 2 at 12:44 AM

so many missing-- I hope he confesses to anything else he did because it is so hard for families and communties of the missing. Maura Murry's father has been looking for her in New Hampshire for 8 years. That poor man.

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guest said on Thursday, Aug 2 at 8:52 AM

Alot of missing young women in that area... google Maura murry.... Maybe they can finally solve these...

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AK J said on Friday, Aug 3 at 5:51 AM

still a better love story than Twilight...

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joel said on Tuesday, Aug 28 at 7:23 PM

i've been following this case since a day before celinas body was found and i've always posted that it was a serial murder and even developed a profile but no one has ever responded. i called it a year ago tat wendel would never be arrested for it and that the vt. ag had nothing

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joel said on Tuesday, Aug 28 at 7:32 PM

on him and were just stalling for a wing and a prayer that never came even a grang jury invest.now i here that they wouldn't rule out a connection with this guy in alaska. just adds to my theroy. for an investigation that boasts fbi involvment why woulndn't i be questioned?

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joel said on Tuesday, Aug 28 at 7:34 PM

forgive my typeos it's lae and i'm tired

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