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More Known About Serial Killer Israel Keyes Prior to FuneralService will take place in Washington StateRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - Jake Gardner says he never met Israel Keyes, but he knows Keyes’ family well. Gardner is an elder with The Church of Wells in Wells, Texas. Speaking from Colorado, Gardner told CBS 11 News on Thursday that he’s on his way to Washington State to preside over Keyes’ funeral on Sunday. He said the family chose a chapel near to where Keyes spent 14 years growing up. Gardner is traveling with Keyes’ mother and four sisters -- the mother and three of the sisters are also members of The Church of Wells. "They are grieved, it's a grief for a brother and a son and a soul," Gardner told CBS 11 News. "It was surprising to say the least," he said, describing how the family felt when he was arrested. On Wednesday, Gardner told television station KTRE in Wells, Texas, “We are not glad that Israel Keyes is in hell, we believe he is, but we are not glad at that.” Gardner said the family knew nothing about the eight murders, including that of Samantha Koenig, and several bank robberies that Keyes confessed to committing. According to Gardner, Keyes visited his family in the Lower 48 numerous times between June 2011 and his arrest in March 2012. One of the visits was after he murdered Vermont couple Bill and Lorraine Currier in June 2011. “When the family asked why he went to Vermont, Keyes told them he just wanted time to himself,” Gardner told CBS 11 News. Gardner said Keyes also visited his family after the murder of Samantha Koenig in February. The family told Gardner about one particular visit when Keyes and some of his family went into the woods and the family shared their experience about joining the Church of Wells. The family told Gardner that Keyes broke down crying, but never revealed his crimes. The family said Keyes was very emotional on several occasions when he visited them, including at his sister's wedding. "Even at the wedding the lord pled with him, pled with him, in the midst of it all he wept, broke down weeping, bawling, even wailing, but he would not repent,” said Gardner. Gardner told television station KTRE in Wells, Texas, that Keyes spoke with one of the pastors in the church and said, “not everyone has morals like you… not everybody has your morals.” Even though he said he was an atheist, Israel Keyes' funeral is scheduled to be held in a chapel at a funeral home. “I’m worried about the funeral because of the animosity towards Keyes,” said Gardner. |
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Signature 6 said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 9:58 AM
Israel Keyes is nothing less than a "MONSTER" His gravestone should have that written on it! MONSTER LIES HERE NEVER UNEARTH..His dealth was to easy for him! He didn't deserve to have any burial service as we were not given the chance to say Good Bye to our loved ones! To Samantha Keoing and Bill and Lorraine may you rest in peace, you were all taken way to soon.
111373492cooljulie said on Saturday, Jan 12 at 8:56 PM
@ the voice- that's precisely the thinking that religion wants you to have, to control your mind! Reverse your questions for a minute- why do I need a god to tell me right from wrong? Why can't humans develop their own moral code, their own ethics? Why is it so far fetched to you that the collective majority is able to reason together? Our brains have evolved to this level, and we use them accordingly. Most follow rules and laws, some don't, and some seek to change the laws. What exacty makes any of that impossible without some 'higher power'? And since the vast majority of humans are NOT christians, according to your logic the world SHOULD be in total chaos! And please explain the remote jungle tribes who have had zero contact with the outside world, who have no concept of god, and exist peaceably? You need to open your mind and learn more realities beofre coming to such ill-conceived conclusions.
111186241jl said on Sunday, Dec 16 at 3:03 PM
r.i.p. samantha koenig
109359931nobodyyouknow said on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 12:00 AM
Why is it that we are talking about religion and politics after this poor girl was brutally murdered, not to mention the other innocent victims.... seriously?
108877535What goes around comes around said on Sunday, Dec 9 at 2:02 PM
Gosh I find it super co inky dink that this dumb slob gets sent back to where it all began? Deer Park? Isn't that where one of $arah's Idaho Arian Nation Terri Lee have a Nam Vet hung? Hmmmm...
108752765BreezyB said on Saturday, Dec 8 at 9:46 PM
@The voice, WELL SAID!
108706452The voice said on Saturday, Dec 8 at 11:13 AM
CoolJulie, The only reason this world isn't in total choas is because of Gods mercy in our world. If you think there is no God, or believe that it is an ancient myth, why not do anything you want to anyone you see fit? Why should anyone follow any rules or laws if there is no higher power. Man certaintly isn't a higher power over you! If you really are convinced that there is no God, then why shouldn't we kill anytime, or anyone we want for any reason we see fit? If death means nothing of consequence why should we judge the actions of anyone on earth? Why is anything a crime? Just because the collective majority deems it! No man has power over anyones decisions or actions in life if there is no God. Please think about your last few moments on this earth and reason with yourself, if there is no God, Why am I here? Why not instead ask the question " God if you are here, somehow show me? You may be surprised at what happens. I will still pray to God for you even if you don't believe.
108671325George Blair said on Friday, Dec 7 at 10:18 PM
Cooljulie--keep the faith. I am very sorry that evil has such a grip on us that we seek to have an all-loving God torture this man for all eternity. Will that set things right? Will it restore Samantha to her family? The outrages done by this criminal cannot be undone by the prospect of eternal torment. Indeed, the more we pray for the torment of another, the more we become like the very thing we hate. Evil begets evil. We are right to condemn torture and murder--of anyone. If we really are better than this sick serial killer, we cannot delight in his torment. Pray for the families of his victims.
108634755speaking of preachers said on Friday, Dec 7 at 8:36 PM
what about that one from the palmer church of god who took a person to scarah's church...when there was no evil present that blew up in scarah's face so the neice of the preacher accuses a black man of rape when he was no where near the area...or the burning of the church of scarah's and the sisters house of the preacher...praise god right?
108630305Ed Davis said on Friday, Dec 7 at 7:50 PM
Right on Julie! They probably 'conveniently' forget things like Lot offering up his virgin daughters to be raped 'to show his love for god'. Twisted indeed!
108628025Anonymous said on Friday, Dec 7 at 7:29 PM
Lunatic? Not so cooljulie are you in a loony bin?
108626915cooljulie said on Friday, Dec 7 at 7:07 PM
ANY translation of the bible (it's not MY translation!) has the same scriptures (worded sightly differently but same message) showing what a sick twisted ruler 'god' is. Religion wants you to take the good literally and spin the bad as 'figurative' or 'prophecy'. The reason so many THINKING adults no longer believe in heaven or hell is that they have chosen to think for themselves instead of cowering in fear at the mind-controlling lies of the clergy. Instead of being 'anonymous', try thinking for YOURself once in awhile. You might be amazed if you actually open your mind to thoughts other than those your preacher told you to have.
108625845Anonymous said on Friday, Dec 7 at 9:49 AM
It's so absolutely frightening that so many grown adults DON'T believe in Heaven and Hell in the year 2012. Straight mind boggling.
108582215Anonymous said on Friday, Dec 7 at 9:31 AM
I. Romans 3:10 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. II. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. III. Romans 5:8 But God commend his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. IV. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. V. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. VI. Romans 10:9-11 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. VII. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
108580365Anonymous said on Friday, Dec 7 at 9:31 AM
Cool Julie, not sure what bible you've been reading, but your translation of it couldn't be further from the truth. the last few Chapters in Judges are a breif insite to the near self destruction of the tribes of Israel...Judges 21 specifically is not about what God has ordered them to do; rather, it's what they have decided to do themselves without regard to God's guidance. It's a history lesson it what happens without God as your King
108580362Robin Scheff said on Friday, Dec 7 at 8:37 AM
Forgiving this sub human maniac, or even thinking about him, is really a waste of my time, and everyone else's time. He destroyed people in life, tortured them and slowly killed them, and he will get exactly what he deserves. No need to even turn my attention in his direction again, ever. His family? Wow, how shameful and horrifying for them to know they raised a monster, a sadistic, murder loving monster. I do feel sorry for them but they will find solace, perhaps, in their religion. I don't know how, but they are not responsible for his life, and if there is a hell, and I think there is, that's where he'll be. Read: Descent into Death. Great book.
108574025waitasecond said on Friday, Dec 7 at 8:30 AM
Cool Julie, God does not you to believe in Him, or to like Him, or to love Him, or to understand Him to put on His throne, He is and always will be. You believing or disbelieving in Heaven or Hell is not going to make it go away and we are all going to find that out one day. Hebrews 9:27 1 Corinthians 2:14 If you are nothing but an evolved ape woman that came from a rock, that sounds just as silly to me.
108573285Christina Cheverie said on Friday, Dec 7 at 1:40 AM
He was the lowest of low, but it is not for any of us to judge him, God will be his judge and jury, He had free will and now the question is does he feel remorse from his Action?? Hating the killer does not help the healing process to be able to carry on with the living as hard as it sounds it's true. Pease and love and patience to all.
108543202cooljulie said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 10:55 PM
Not only is it mind boggling that grown adults believe in ancient mythology like heaven and hell, it's mind boggling that they are outraged by Keyes, yet praise a god who is far more sadistic and twisted- ie- bashing babies against rocks (Hosea 13:16 & Psalms 137 :9). In Judges 21, god orders the murder of all the people of Jabesh-gilead, except for the virgin girls who were taken to be forcibly raped and married. When they wanted more virgins, God told them to hide alongside the road and when they saw a girl they liked, kidnap her and forcibly rape her and make her your wife! Maybe Keyes was an Atheist because he wasn't quite evil enough to follow god?
108538355Loves AK said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 10:29 PM
He deserves to be put out with the trash. I wish the other inmaes could have had their way with him so he would have suffered horrifically! Rot in hell!
108537042Anonymous said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 9:53 PM
It's so absolutely frightening that so many grown adults believe in Heaven and Hell in the year 2012. Straight mind boggling.
1085357551sayeroftruth said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 9:33 PM
I do not know if there is a hereafter but if their is I for one pray that Samantha is standing in the gate to block his way.I am glad this monster who had no regard for human life is not among the living any more.
108534785Anonymous said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 9:19 PM
yeah and why would he make a dash to get out of court with all the security around? a message that may be he committed the crime but didn't plan it...
108534112akwildflower said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 9:18 PM
Meant to add that he is no longer an atheist. Now he knows there is a God...
108534092akwildflower said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 9:11 PM
The funeral is not for him. It is for his family, trying to grasp what they have learned about their family member, who told investigators that he was two people, and no one else had a clue what he was really like. They have a lot to comprehend... Not the least of which, that he is in Hell.
108533775Adam said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 8:36 PM
Rest in peace israel, samantha an other victims
108531815May be Scarah can say a prayer said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 7:21 PM
Send cookies to the victims...naw they are busy hiding from the fact that Toad flew him up here... for those projects of "must be some evil in them" folks who threatened the corruptions of Alaska politics and business...
108527295Gunny G said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 7:20 PM
Toss him in a dumpster where he belongs.
108527225Anonymous said on Thursday, Dec 6 at 7:13 PM
He deserves NOTHING!!! Let his soul burn in hell!
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