Fuller Picture Emerges of Investigation Into Serial Killer Israel Keyes

Authorities release details of Koenig murder

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By Bill McAllister
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During the investigation we saw federal authorities take a shed from the Turnagain home Keyes lived in. Now we know why.

The FBI says that's where Keyes told them he took Samantha.

Keyes bound Samantha in the shed, turning up the radio to muffle any screams, and telling her that he had a police scanner, so he would know if she tried to alert neighbors.

Keyes drove to her house and got the ATM card, and there was confronted by her boyfriend, before driving off.

He drove to an ATM machine to test the PIN number.

He then returned to the shed, and strangled her.

It turns out he left her body there for more than two weeks, while he went on a pre-planned cruise out of New Orleans.

When he returned to Alaska, he went back to the shed and took a photo of Samantha’s body, making it look like she was still alive. With a copy of the Daily News front page from February 13, he typed up a ransom demand for $30,000 on a photocopy of the picture. He placed it on a board posted at Connor’s Bog Park -- a popular dog park off International and Jewel Lake, under a specific memorial flyer, and then texted her boyfriend where to find that note.

Keyes dismembered Samantha’s body.

Once at Matanuska Lake he used a chainsaw to cut a hole in the ice and deposited the remains.

But investigators said they saw activity on Samantha’s ATM card.

They said Keyes continued to use it.

In the end Keyes would not have been caught if he had not continued to use Samantha’s ATM card. Video footage from one ATM stop in the Southwest suggested that whoever had the card was driving a white 2012 Ford Focus.

Based on this tenuous lead, a Texas Ranger went with his gut instincts and pulled Keyes over, finding the card and her cell phone.

Monday we heard audio of Israel Keyes talking to investigators while he was in custody.

Tuesday we received video released by the FBI.

The FBI is releasing that in case anyone might recognize Keyes in relation to outstanding missing persons cases.

Keyes said, "I thought i was smart. I would, um, do it, I would let them come to me. Just a remote area. Kind of a remote area that's not anywhere near where you lived but that other people go to as well. You might not get exactly what you're not much to choose from in a matter of speaking but there's also no witnesses really, nobody else around."

APD Detective Monique Doll said Keyes “broke his own rule” by killing someone in the city where he lived. His mode of operation had been to fly out of state and then drive a long distance to find a victim.

All of this information comes out now, of course, because of Keyes’ suicide over the weekend.

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tomkyte said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 10:49 AM

so what is so different than what we all read months ago when Keyes killed himself. there is nothing new in the report, try reporting current news instead of dragging the family through it all over again

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Anonymous said on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 10:28 PM

Okay, Diane, I'll ask it again- where did all the donated money end up? With all due respect and tremendous sympathy to Samantha's family and friends, those of us who donated money to a supposed 'search/reward fund' never saw where those tens of thousands of dollars went. Except a new truck. Sorry but it leaves a very bitter taste.

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Diane said on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 3:45 PM

The Koenig family and Samanthas friends were living a true nightmare being taunted by a monster. They endured what no one should ever have to endure from Keyes and on top of that, they had to endure inquiries about where the money was and attacks to both themselves and Sam by vicious publicity seeking thugs. Let them heal- leave them alone and give them peace to grieve.

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Anonymous said on Wednesday, Dec 5 at 3:59 PM

Well...um... so where did all the donated money end up?

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Anonymous said on Wednesday, Dec 5 at 9:19 AM

sounds like a hired killer to me...find the boss...

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