Weather
Department of Corrections Says Keyes Showed No Signs of Being SuicidalSerial killer found dead in cell Sunday morningRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - On Sunday morning, serial killer Israel Keyes was found dead at the Anchorage Correctional Complex. Investigators with the state troopers were notified of Keyes' death around 6:30 a.m. The state medical examiner hasn’t released Keyes’ autopsy results and state trooper spokesperson Beth Ipsen said even when troopers can confirm how Keyes died, the information might not be released to the public. Keyes was confined to his cell 23 hours a day in a segregation unit that housed around 23 prisoners. "Security typically for segregation is a 24 hour post, which means there is an officer present 24 hours a day,” said Bryan Brandenburg, Director of Institutions with the Department of Corrections. That one officer on duty is supposed to check on each prisoner every 30 minutes. Whether this was the case on Sunday morning when Keyes died is being investigated. "We just look at the policies and the procedures to make sure that everything was followed appropriately,” Brandenburg said. Friends and family of Samantha Koenig, one of Keyes' victims, say justice hasn't been served. "We are not satisfied. We were so hoping for our day in court where Israel Keyes would have to stand before all of us and take his punishment,” said Heather Cartwright, a friend of Samantha Koenig. Samantha Koenig’s dad James Koenig said the D.O.C dropped the ball. "D.O.C. should be ashamed, and held accountable for allowing this to happen,” said Koenig in a Facebook post. "How and why he would have access to anything to commit suicide in a segregated cell on 24 hour watch is beyond me.” D.O.C. said it wasn't aware Keyes was suicidal. “We do what we can when we are aware of situations, to do whatever preventative measures are available to us,” said Brandenburg. The last time investigators spoke to Keyes about his murders was on Thursday last week. Federal prosecutions had until the end of the year to decide if they were going to seek the death penalty, but yesterday the U.S. Attorney’s office said they had not confirmed their decision. The D.O.C. says Keyes had access to pen and paper, but neither the troopers nor D.O.C. will confirm or deny if Keyes left a suicide note. |
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
TedtheBear said on Friday, Dec 7 at 4:32 PM
The razors used at Anchorage Correctional Complex is your basic cheap Bic razors. You can't just drop the blade without breaking the razor shell.
108616965wow said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 7:39 AM
so the guard dropped off the blade that he used
108462752William said on Wednesday, Dec 5 at 11:48 AM
So, they dropped the ball on the 30 minute prisoner check and now Samantha's family and his other victims are denied justice and Alaska looks like a podunk backwater that can't handle grown up business. Great job DOC.
108389835Richard said on Tuesday, Dec 4 at 2:49 PM
Cool we had a serial killer in AK. Too bad he couldn't go on killing 'cause I think that the justice system provoked him in doing so by being way to nice to the victims over a long time. Oh yeah the guards probally killed him 'cause he confessed and then was killed. These victims and their cop friends need to stop playing victim and man-up.
108306545father2father said on Tuesday, Dec 4 at 1:40 PM
??????????????????????
108300595TedtheBear said on Tuesday, Dec 4 at 9:48 AM
I think the dismay shown by law enforcement is that it isn't that Keyes went to hell but that he went slightly too prematurely. They weren't done with him yet and he may have more to say that may solve or clear up other cases. So it would have been better if he stay alive a bit longer.
108277675rz said on Tuesday, Dec 4 at 9:10 AM
That scum sucking fool should have been hanged when he got arrested. Why waste our time and money on trash like him. All those type losers should take the same path and our prison population would drop fast.Would it be justice for him to sit in prison for 50 years on our dime? Eating 3 squares and watching the View?
108274625Just Joe said on Tuesday, Dec 4 at 7:27 AM
He did us all a favor. We don't have to pay to take care of this piece of dirt and daddy gets to sue DOC.
108265709Wes Craske said on Monday, Dec 3 at 10:43 PM
I don't see the state to be blamable in this case. There are people who just don't belong on this earth. Mr Keyes was such a person. He should be congratulated and brought back to life, so he can do it again. There was never going to be any justice in any event. I see no reason to drag the process out. That sounds mean and it is intended to be: people who hurt others, especially men who hurt girls don't need justice: they need to be dead.
108243982TedtheBear said on Monday, Dec 3 at 10:25 PM
If Keyes was not considered suicidal, then he would have blanket, sheets and clothing that will allow any inmate to use for a suicide effort. Mr. Brandenburg used to run Mike Module, which is acute mental health ward/module so he is well aware of the mental health protocols of DOC Alaska. Shortages of officers during the night shift have been problematic. Segregation units should be manned 24/7 but it is not strange if it wasn't. Often the 30 minutes security checks won't prevent anyone from committing suicide since a determined inmate can just time the checks. Once the officer walked by, he know that got at least 30 minutes to do what he needs to do. If the officer have to leave the module to do other security checks, so much the easier. All modules should be manned 24/7 but that is not the case.
108243395Add a comment
Most Popular