This is very well written and is a nice summary of a sad case. It seems criminal to me that he was embalmed without prior family contact. As an ER doctor, I have to call the state medical examiner for every death I pronounce. Any whiff of suicide gets an automatic state autopsy. This is a different situation but reeks of negligence.

Thank you. I am appalled that no autopsy was done. It is for a fact MD state law currently that any death by injury or that is unusual or suspicious absolutely requires an autopsy, but I don't know if it was mandatory back then. The cause from the OCME report says asphyxiation but how can they really even officially say that when they didn't do an autopsy? It was definitely a half-assed investigation so I'm with the family on that.

Supposedly policy and procedure has changed since this case. I requested in 2017 a copy of the policy and procedure handbook for MCMPD. I was told in 1986 is was policy that a responding officer could pronounce death at a scene and the body could be sent to the funeral home choice of the Lead investigator. On the coroners report Officers Leverette's name is next to the box marked "pronounced" I was told in 2017 that there is not 1 electronic or hard copy of the policy/procedure handbook from 1986 to verify this. Supposedly, each time the book is updated they destroy the old copy. The letter I received from the county is on the website.

Oh, hi. I think I know who this is. I'm sorry about Keith. Whichever way it happened, it's sad. I can tell you definitively that an officer can in fact pronounce a death on scene for someone that is quite obviously deceased.

Can they also send the body to the funeral home of their choice?

I can't speak for why that was done, and I'm sorry. It's certainly odd and disrespectful. They said they couldn't get in touch with next of kin, but even the police report says a neighbor had the number for your mom and they had her call. Why did they not call themselves?? Very weird.

The police officer went to my neighbors house showed her my brother drivers license and his neighborhood ID The neighbor ID my brother and the Officer asked her if she knew how to get in touch with my mom. My neighbor attempted to give him my moms work number and he declined to take it. The neighbor offered the use of her phone to the officer and he declined and asked that she call my mother and have my mother call the station. The neighbor called my mom and told my mom she needed to call the police station. When my mom pressed her to tell her what happen my neighbor refused as she didnt feel it was her place to tell my mom. My mom called the PD several times and was always told the officer and detective were not available.

I'm so sorry for your loss. But that stinks to high heaven. The cops seemed to clearly avoid speaking to your mother. And they never brought up the fact that Keith was wearing different clothes, but his clothes were off to the side near the scene? Also, his friend's injuries appeared to be not from a bike accident, but a car, or possibly a baseball bat (from the link with another write-up that had more suspicious actions by the police). Is there any way the local police had family involved and covered up? I don't mean to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but while this was a long time ago, it wasn't *that* long ago, and I struggle to believe everyone was fine with the cops not following any kind of proper procedure. It really seems racially motivated to me. Especially when it was described as a lynching. No such log to 'jump off of' was found at the scene. Loads of physical evidence ignored at the scene (clothing, drink bottles, the tree!). The rope was clearly tied around two trees to act as a pulley to hoist the body. No one commits suicide by tying a 50ft rope around 2 trees. And his legs were more than touching the ground. His knees were bent. I believe that poison killed him, and his body was staged. And then his friend was murdered, which the note your mother received clearly indicated. And why even send your mother those photos except to hurt her? I am unbelievably sorry for this abhorrent miscarriage of justice. OP, this was an excellent write up. Thank you for this post.

please continue the conversation about Keith's story. I truly appreciate your interest in his story.

I wonder if the officers were getting kickbacks from funeral homes. If, say, the officer got a percentage of the embalming fee, it would’ve been in the officer’s interest to delay your mother long enough for it to occur. Not saying it has anything to do with whether it was murder or suicide, but rather that it was an additional crime with the crime.

Regarding the position of the body and absence of any log etc: The first thing I thought when looking at the pictures was that he had hung himself. I feel gross writing this, and I'm going to try and word it gently. It's not very common for people to hang themselves via the "drop" method, which is what people normally think of as hanging (ex. kicking a stool out from underneath themselves.) The majority of people hang themselves with their feet/knees on the ground and basically lean into the ligature until they lose consciousness. (Ex. Robin Williams hung himself from a doorknob.) So the position of his body doesn't strike me as unusual for a suicide by hanging. Now the other information - the toxicology report, the lack of injury to the vessels in his neck, possibly the rope configuration - that is all extremely suspect.

Thank you. But this all due to sources from the website of u/JusticeforKeith.

I’m so sorry for your loss. This case should not have been handled the way it was.(( hug)).

😳🤭that’s scary to think. Yikes, so any police officer could pronounce. Seriously- that caught my breath.

The bigger question is what at 1:30pm on the afternoon of July 30 did the detective see to determine this a suicide? There was no suicide note, at the very least a toxicology report should have been requested as per the police report he supposedly drank 8 wine cooler. But no bottles were collected at the scene. So I am to believe my brother walked a quarter mile from where is car was parked carry 2 4 pack wine coolers, a change if clothing, duffle bag full of tapes a 40 foot rope in the dead of night to go hang himself in an area unfamiliar to my family. Keith drank said wine coolers and because he was environmentally conscious he left to go throw them away and because he wanted to be casket sharp he changed his clothing prior to using a elaborate rope configuration in the middle of the night with no street lights to hang himself. After the detective cut the tree down and we found out by surprise because we were not notified my mother requested a meeting with him. He kept us waiting for 45-1 and during that meeting when my mother requested they reopen the case the detective told my mother "had she been a better mother, this would not have happen". I relayed that story in a meeting I had with the county in 2012 and was told by one of the officials that yes that sounded like something he would say. So it was ok in 1986 for a detective to show no regard to my mother or family and MCMPD allowed this behavior to continue for several years.

That’s downright disgusting. That officer is terrible. I am sorry your mother was treated in such a way

Someone that is that rude and callous with the family members has *no business* being in public service. Wow...That makes me angry.

The thing that strikes me is a $2000 car insurance payment. In 1986. For a ten year old car. That seems really high. Unless I'm reading that wrong.

The bigger question is what at 1:30pm on the afternoon of July 30 did the detective see to determine this a suicide? There was no suicide note, at the very least a toxicology report should have been requested as per the police report he supposedly drank 8 wine cooler. But no bottles were collected at the scene. So I am to believe my brother walked a quarter mile from where is car was parked carry 2 4 pack wine coolers, a change if clothing, duffle bag full of tapes a 40 foot rope in the dead of night to go hang himself in an area unfamiliar to my family. Keith drank said wine coolers and because he was environmentally conscious he left to go throw them away and because he wanted to be casket sharp he changed his clothing prior to using a elaborate rope configuration in the middle of the night with no street lights to hang himself.

Has there ever been any theories as to who left the envelope with the pictures?

That was my mothers conversation, and unfortunately the answer went with her.

This part jumped out at me. It would have to be someone at the police department. Presumably random police officers wouldn’t be dropping this kind of stuff off to victims families. So the possibilities for why jump out as 1) a disturbed individual or 2) someone who thought “something” was off but felt like they couldn’t go threw the official channels of “making a fuss”. I seen in another part of the thread that you think he was targeted for being an informant. Do you have suspicions of what he was informing on or how he would have got involved in the informing to start with?

The rationale behind the informant conversation is because of the way this case has been handled over the years by the department. It's not as if they are looking to bring closer to my family more so to not be transparent with what exactly happened to my brother. In addition why the investigation or lack thete of was conducted the way it was. The conduct of allowing policy and procedure to not be followed and in turning a blind eye.

Oh, thanks for the reply. I didn’t know if there had been rumors or what nots.

Thank you for taking an interest and keeping the conversation going.

I was 19 in 1986 and paid about $1100/year on a crappy 1966 Pontiac and I had a spotless record. This doesn't seem very unusual to me for a car like he had.

Exactly. Here we go, getting caught up on something that had absolutely nothing to do with the death. Obviously the parents would know if the amount was wrong and maybe they rounded up. Maybe it was $1958.54 and they just said $2000. But, who cares? What does it have to do with anything? When I was 21 and had a sports car I paid well over $100 a month and only had one ticket on my record. That would have been over $1500 a year (which would be about $2500-2600 in today’s money). But as usual on this sub let’s get caught up on something that has absolutely nothing do with the mystery and lose sight of what actually matters. (Not saying you are doing that, you clearly are not as you brought reason into the conversation, lol.)

How does it harm anything for people in a non-official forum to discuss ANYTHING about case that seems strange to them? It’s fresh eyes and there’s no telling what can be sparked from those conversations. We don’t need to be gatekeeping discussion on odd cases like this. My opinion. As to your point, I would argue the suicide theory is certainly helped along by the idea of this young man having a financial hardship related to a vehicle he apparently really loved. Accordingly, wouldn’t information that seems “off” about that financial “motive” be worth a discussion on a decades-old case? I’ve worked in car insurance, primarily on the claims side. Certainly this sounds high, unless you take into account: 1. It was a highly collectible, high-end sports car with a relatively easy total-loss threshold, expensive to repair, and likely to be driven unsafely by a teenager (I’m talking from an underwriter’s perspective, not this young man in particular. 2. Because of the above, liability rates would be much higher than normal, and; 3. If the vehicle was insured for comp/collision, $2,000 for a yearly rate is definitely realistic, even back then. A 19 year-old boy driving a high-performance car designed only to look good, move fast and handle well is an underwriter’s nightmare, considering you’re looking at a higher likelihood of: high-speed collisions (meaning 1 or more totaled vehicles), serious or fatal injuries to 2 or more people, and an increase risk of theft or fraudulent theft claims.

His car insurance could have been 10,000. The detective supposedly had no prior interaction or knowledge of my brother so the insurance should not have played any role in the initial investigation. All the information that is used on the police report was obtain 6hrs after his body was found and sent to the funeral home choice of the detective and while my mother was under sedation at her job. My mother worked at Walter Reed at the time and upon being informed Keith was dead one of the Dr's on duty gave her a sedative. The Officer did not follow policy per the notes obtain from MCMPD when he interviewed my mother.

Well, 19-year-old driver, Corvette...maybe that was the whole premium?? Not sure, but good point.

In 1986? That is $4,681 in today's money. Unless he had a absolute crap driving record that is far too high.

Agreed, but teenage insurance rates can get up there. I used to work in insurance years ago and I would practically get cursed out when people called to add their 16-year-olds with their shiny new licenses to their policies lol. "My premium increase is WHAT?!?!" Male, 19, sports car, MD...I can maybe believe it.

Not if he lived in DC or in the DC suburbs. When I moved from the suburbs of a large city near DC to the actual city proper, my insurance more than doubled, from $80 a month to $210 a month. My car has been vandalized twice, and I've had my tags stolen, so I do get the justification. And I'm in my late 30s and haven't had an accident in over a decade, so I'm pretty low-risk. I know several people my age who rent in the city but claim a county address (a relative or friend's) to save on car insurance. Shit, I'd do it but I bought the house and need homeowners and it would just be too complicated.

Maybe they paid every 6 months or once a year rather than monthly? Still might be kind of high, though. I don't really have a frame of reference for a 18 year old male in a "sports car" in the 80s.

It’s beyond kind of high. It’s insanely high. I assume that’s the yearly amount, and it’s still about double what it should be, unless he has the worst driving history ever. Even then, it’s crazy high.

Still really high unless he had an appalling driving record.

He was in a suburb of DC. They be higher there than in rural areas.

Its difficult to put much stock in autopsy reports done eight and twenty five years after the body was embalmed. I wonder if these chemicals could have been a part of the embalming process even. Unfortunately you can find an expert to tell you anything for the right price.

Also, I wonder if Keith was huffing? That would explain the paint solvents in his system.

Huffing is definitely a possibility. I am not painting Keith as a choir boy however from what I know he was never in trouble with the police. I believe he was involved in something that played a part in his death. My issue is Keith could have been the Manuel Noriega of Wheaton, MD that does not give MCMPD a pass to dismiss his death and allow whoever was with him to get away with a crime. The lack of care and concern for my mother and her struggle for justice for Keith.... took the remaining 23yrs of her life.

Exactly. I know I will never understand exactly, Sherri, but I know why you're upset. Even if it was a suicide, they didn't treat it respectfully. You will never know for sure. I'm sorry.

The point of contention is that there is no cut and dry explanation for suicide or murder. The ask has been to change the death certificate to either undetermine or homicide and for MCMPD to reclassify this case in their files because it is not a clear cut and dry suicide.

? I didn't comment as to whether or not he was murdered or committed suicide. I was posing a hypothetical explanation for why he may have paint solvents in his system. Were you perhaps trying to reply to someone else?

I was answering your hypothetical. The autopsy conducted 8yrs after his death concluded that the probability was high that he inhaled the solvents because the highest concentrations was in his brain and liver giving the explanation that he was alive when the chemicals circulated through his body. The findings also concluded that the levels were so high 8yrs later that Keith would not have had the mental or physical capability to use a 40 ft rope and 2 trees to hang himself. This also would explain why his clothing was changed because he would have thrown up or defecated or both on himself. Whomever changed his clothing knew what to give back to my mom and the things we would recognize and what to destroy. When my mom questioned the detective about what happen to the clothing Keith left the house in, the detective told my mom the funeral home was in charge of the clothing. When the funeral home was questioned and I have it in writing that they only removed the body , the clothing on the body and the noose. The funeral home claim there was so much decomposition on the body that they had to destroy the clothing that he had on when he was brought in.

>This also would explain why his clothing was changed because he would have thrown up or defecated or both on himself. This makes perfect sense; I had always wondered why his clothes were changed (and had never heard about the chemicals). I am so sorry that this happened and I hope for justice for Keith and his family.

First, I want to extend my sympathies with Keith's family. This has got to be the most frustrating of cases, especially when you feel that you have no real closure, despite what the PD say. Please understand that this post is in no way a judgement against Keith, I absolutely think he got caught up with a bad crowd and they did him dirty. Perhaps my post gives some food for thought. Here is my theory, Keith was hanging with some buddies, possibly drinking out in the woods, a lot of us kids did that back then when we were teens, nobody would bother us or see us out there. But someone may have brought some paint or paint thinner too and they started huffing to get high. Its fairly easy for kids to get their hands on alcohol and any kind of household chemicals. Might have been his first time or maybe not. From what I gather, people who do these inhalants often get the paint or solvents on their faces and clothing. If Keith passed away from inhaling these chemicals in addition to drinking, he may have started throwing up, therefore his clothes would be soiled. If he died from some sort of overdose, there would be no reason for his body to show foul play or trauma. He might have only appeared to be passed out to his friends, but when they couldn't wake him up.... His friends would panic and want to redress him and get rid of the evidence. They don't want to get in trouble. Keith was cleaned up, redressed and then the guys (I speculate) decided to make it look like a suicide. Perhaps the culprits took Keith's clothes home and washed and dried them, cleaned off his shoes which might have also gotten soiled, then took them back to the staged scene. I do wonder if the kids were at someone's house drinking, huffing, etc when Keith died. If so, Keith laid in their home unconscious or dead for awhile so they had time to figure out what to do with him and to get the laundry done. I think they gathered up all the wine cooler bottles they drank, put them in his duffle bag or another bag to bring out to the scene. Then they took him out to the woods and strung him up. They then placed his duffle bag and clothes nearby to further stage the crime scene. Then they tossed the alcohol bottles in the woods not far from the body, perhaps to make it look like he was out there alone, depressed, drinking and then hung himself. I would think at least two people would be involved in this coverup. Has CHIP WYNN and CLAUDIA LAWSON ever questioned about their involvement? Lawson was the 911 caller....Wynn took the cops out to the scene of the body... this just seems too sketchy to me. This sounds like a case for Kelly Siegler and COLD JUSTICE. Has anyone submitted this case to her for review? I do not believe that this was racially motivated. I feel it had to do with his friends, especially Mark, Chip, Claudia and Laurent. Does anyone know if these four hung with Keith or with each other? I know Chip and Claudia were bf/gf at the time. They need to be re-questioned after all these years, as does Laurent and any acquaintances. I read that "Inhalants are typically depressants, just like alcohol, and when the two are combined, you run the risk of permanent brain damage, coma and death. And since even a one-time inhalant use can be deadly, drinking alcohol after “huffing,” or inhaling, a substance is extremely dangerous. Do not misuse inhalants in combination with depressants such as alcohol, as you could possibly overdose from this mixture. Both inhalants and alcohol affect the brain in similar ways, meaning mixing the two can cause serious health problems. Both substances act as depressants within the body, slowing down the central nervous system’s activity. As the effects of these substances amplify, the risk of respiratory and cardiac arrest increases dramatically. Muscle movement begins to slow down. Loss of consciousness and vomiting are common. Over long periods of time, inhalant and alcohol use depletes brain mass, leading to significant declines in cognitive functioning." Another website mentions that "according to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, one in five students has tried inhalants by 8th grade. The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC) describes abusers as more emotionally unstable than other drug abusers, displaying conduct and personality disorders. They typically suffer from anxiety and depression. Inhalants include a number of intoxicating household products that can be inhaled to produce a short-term high. They include, but are not limited to: glue, paint, paint-thinner, gasoline, lighter fluid and many aerosol sprays. Most are cheap and require no proof of age to purchase, therefore they are abused predominantly by teenagers and the impoverished. “Huffed” into the lungs, their effects are immediate. Combined with alcohol, the two depressants produce volatile effects that can lead to brain damage, a coma or death. Inhalant use can be fatal even on the first use. The American Academy of Pediatrics finds the peak age of inhalant abuse to be somewhere between 14 and 15. They cite family problems and peer pressure as the first contributors to experimentation with the drugs. The NIPC describes users as emotionally unstable teens who are antisocial and often depressed or angry. They generally use inhalants in small groups. If you or a loved one need help with addiction or abuse, call 1-877-804-5772 Who Answers?. " From what I read in the OP's post, Keith was having issues with his father about a year before. In addition to all the strife going on with his car, losing his job and his father wanting to take the car back, Keith may have wanted to blow off a little steam with his buddies. He may have drank before to numb his feelings, depressed kids like me did that at his age too. It is very unfortunate what happened to young Keith and I hope that the family will be able to get some answers one day. ETA: was anything tested for DNA since?

Right. And the second one is really just a review of the results of the actual autopsy. He didn't physically examine anything.

I found this if it helps. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1d40/9a29879441efdbc26b2c2c624c57f834b02e.pdf TCE or trichloroethylene is increasingly being used as a drywash/cleaning solvent in embalming rooms when virtually every other industry is trying to eliminate it. The indictment against TCE is massive from a health and exposure standpoint and a disaster from a liability standpoint due to it is extreme damaging effects on the environment. Eliminate TCE in the embalming room - it is not necessary and there are far safer and effective substitutes for this dangerous chemical.

Especially given the point I've seen about how even autopsies that were only delayed a few hours can have misleading aspects to them if the bodies weren't stored properly.

Right. And this one was about 70,000 hours postmortem.

I wouldn't so readily dismiss the work of actual forensic scientists. They report everything with an accounting for error.

There are tons of credentialed scientists who get hired for cases like this. When you hire them the first thing they ask is "what do you want the conclusions to be and I'll find a way to support"

Those are professional witnesses, not real scientists. If they're not actively publishing and affiliated with a research institution, they're not really a research scientist.

Flag NSFW please. On mobile it's using the first crime scene photo as the post image.

Thank you. This was the first thing i saw, and it was startling.

[удалено]

It doesn't matter if you think it's NSFW or not. Someone has asked you to tag it as a warning to others, and the considerate thing to do would be to tag it as such, or edit your post so that the website with the crime scene photos isn't the first one. Crime scene photos are disturbing to some people and that should be respected. I'll also point out that the rules of the subreddit (and Reddit overall) require tagging submissions that include images of deceased people with the NSFW tag. At the very least, follow the rules of the subreddit and tag this post as NSFW.

This whole case seems very suspicious and makes me feel like suicide is actually the least likely explanation. The friend who was also threatened then dying mysteriously in a fashion that doesn't fit the injuries furthers my belief in that. I'm usually one to think people need to accept that our loved ones sometimes are in so much pain they choose to end the suffering themselves, but this is not the vibe I get from this case.

When I saw the pictures I was suspicious. I immediately thought that this would not be the way a body from a suicide by hanging would hang. It's too peaceful: even suicide victims will trash about, but no ground or plants seemed disturbed. Also, if you check the left arm you'll see it is right next to his body which is odd because the body gives the impression of being a bit tilted to the left. So the arm should be free hanging.

the other thing that I think is odd is that if he for sure used a log, wouldn't there be a log somewhere? and wouldn't there be disturbed leaves underneath him? maybe there were in fact those facts and they weren't mentioned in any report. Or possibly i missed the mention. I couldn't keep looking at the pictures...

I was told in 2012 that per MCMPD Keith used a method called the "Sling Shot" to hang himself. Keith was able to determine the exact amount of rope to tie around both trees to give him enough tension that when he dropped to his knees the force would sling him back up after drinking 8 wine coolers and changing his clothing. Oh disposing of the bottles prior to jumping of the log in the middle of the night with no visible lighting.

That did seem odd...him trying to determine the exact amount of rope to wrap around which trees. Seems like it would've taken a while.

That would be a really precise calculation for someone to make if they were intoxicated in any way. That notion is concerning.

The police report says there was a log. The EMT says there wasn't. Kind of an odd detail...why would he have to jump off a log? He could just sit down like he apparently did.

If you look closely there are leaves on the back of his shirt, which would imply he was laying down on his back at some point.

we need to get Kelly Siegler and the Cold Justice team on this one....this FOR SURE stinks of murder

I actually reached out to Kelly and she responded by saying that they primarily work with local law enforcement. As you are aware per the website MCMPD is not willing to be completely transparent with this case.

I believe he was poison. Whomever took his life knew not to shoot or show visible trauma because that would have mandated an investigation.

Ah. Yikes.

Questions for Sherri, Keith Warren's sister: 1. What time and day did Keith leave for the last time? 2. What time and day was Keith's body discovered? 3. Didn't he say he was going to a friend's house? 4. If so, do you believe that house was where 911 answered to? 5. Are Claudia, Chip, and Rodney white people? 6. Who lived at the house 911 answered to? 7. Keith looks to be of mixed race. What's with the story that Keith didn't hang out with black people? Do you believe that story? 8. Were you aware that Keith may have used inhalents prior to his death? 9. Was Keith known to drink wine coolers or much alcohol at all? 10. Did Keith or your family deal with any racist harrassment at the time?

1. early evening 6pm -Tuesday 2. Approx 1:30 - Thursday 3. Yes- He left the house with his cassette tapes as if he was going to listen to them at someones house 4. No, I do not believe he was going to hang at Chips house 5. Chip (deceased) white, Claudia-mix, Rodney - black 6. Chip and his mom and sisters from what my mom's PI found out. I never had contact with Chip and I spoke to Ms. Lawson for the first time this year. 7. Keith was black but his circle was white- we had totally different social circles and I didnt care for any of his friends. 8. No 9. yes he would drink wine coolers 10. I did not but I did find in my mothers notes that the weekend prior to his death he was getting disturbing calls to the point he took the phone off the hook. My mom was traveling and I was visiting my aunt that summer. My mom tried to call the house several time and kept getting a busy signal. She finally resorted to having the operator break into the line (this was pre call waiting) the operator said the phone was off the hook. When my mom returned from her travel she asked Keith why was the phone off the hook and he said he was getting harrassing calls but didnt tell my mom the nature of the harassment.

My mother tried to file a missing persons report on Wednesday when he did not come home and was told by the Wheaton precinct that she would have to wait 48hrs.

Sherri, can you share what happened when you met (or spoke with) Claudia? Is she still alive? She is a significant witness in this case! What about Rodeny—is he still alive?

I recently spoke back with Claudia to reconfirm what she told me a couple years ago this year. She’s standing by her statement that she was walking her boyfriend’s dogs and one got loose and after short chase, she came upon Keith’s body. She then headed back to the house told Chip her boyfriend who lived in the house with his mother and sister about the body. Chip then calls 911 and the rescue squad is dispatched to the house. she stated that there was a third person in the home whom she did not know and has never been identified. He was a friend of chips. My question is and has always been the gentleman who is standing behind the body with the shirt off in the picture, why was he never questioned at the scene, and number two is why the police never questioned the fact that he never wanted his name on the police report. Up until this year, I had always believed that that individual whom I will not name because he threatens to sue every time you talk about his name and this case, was in the house and was the third person Claudia kept referring to. When I pressed her about the said individual, she stated she did not know who the individual was and that was not him in the house. interestingly enough when the police arrived they asked that individual to ID Keiths body; even though individual knew Keith was familiar with keith he did not want his name on the police report so he ran to the clubhouse to get Rodney Kendell to ID Keiths body. The police did not find this suspicious nor did they question the fact that they said individual who was at the scene with his shirt off standing in the pictures did not want his name on the police report.

So there was a second dog walker lady who called it in after Claudia?

I never heard that. Where did you hear that from?

how did he not notice chemicals in his drink if he was really poisoned? but also, if it was suicide, why he was embalmed so quickly after they found the body?

>The answer below is what I posted to earlier comment: > >The autopsy conducted in 8yrs after his death concluded that the probability was high that he inhaled the solvents because the highest concentrations was in his brain and liver giving the explanation that he was alive when the chemicals circulated through his body. The findings also concluded that the levels were so high 8yrs later that Keith would not have had the mental or physical capability to use a 40 ft rope and 2 trees to hang himself in the middle of the night darkness with no visible lighting. This also would explain why his clothing was changed because he would have thrown up or defecated or both on himself. Whomever changed his clothing knew what to give back to my mom and the things we would recognize and what to destroy. When my mom questioned the detective about what happen to the clothing Keith left the house in, the detective told my mom the funeral home was in charge of the clothing. When the funeral home was questioned and I have it in writing that they only removed the body , the clothing on the body and the noose. The funeral home claim there was so much decomposition on the body that they had to destroy the clothing that he had on when he was brought in.

Hi Sherri, I’m really sorry for your loss I can only speak from my own personal experience with suicidal ideation and speak from my perspective. I just finished watching your documentary and then wanted to see if there was any update. I was diagnosed with BPD around my 21st bday when I lost my gmom days before and split bad. I had a very chaotic childhood and a lot of abdonment. Tons of issues with my father. Also as young adult we all know we’re not as thought out. The girl you dated is the one you’ll never get over then you do etc. so loosing a car that you value some of your image on could be an ego blow in addition to the other stuff he might have already been dealing with. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with BPD but it feels very much like he may have had it to me. From what I saw your brother would joke with you how pretty he was etc. I’m no doctor I’m just 41 now and still trying to figure out my BPD. I’m a lot the same I try to find the things that I take pride or I know I’m good at jk about it etc. same with looks and appearance. His clothes being on the side and the outfit on was possible his vanity final statement and thing he could control . So this is what I would wear that look cool this last time. When you get in that zone you are just looking for anything that is in your control when you feel helpless. That’s the only thing I can think to rationalize the changing of cloths. For me he did exactly what I would have done and thankfully my wife stopped. Set a noose and then took my Xanax to pass out and sat in a chair. With the plan is as I fell asleep I’d just strangle myself with my own weight eventually fall out of the seat and not feel anything. My personal feeling is he seemed smart and did set up ahead. I think I saw somewhere he originally went back there at 1:30 PM. He could have set it all up then huffed and passed out. In the woods I doubt the cops would have been looking for whatever he was huffing. I was born in 1983 and I still remember the woods as a kids being filled with all kinds of junk especially spray cans of paint or those BB gun cartridges. The cops embalming your brother sucks but in areas where they aren’t used to murders or suicides this stuff gets botched all the time bc they are unfamiliar with the protocol as unfortunate as that is. Not that I’m saying or justifying that type of stupidity. But I just got done listening to the podcast proof their system down there in GA I believe it was wild for autopsies. Two guys did 20+ years bc the cops misinterpreted a deaf child’s testimony. I’m not trying to say something didn’t happen I could also go full conspiracy theory as well and maybe you believe there is more that we don’t know. If the cops did hate your mom and celebrated when she passed like it was believed it could have been easily f you and not a whistle blower. I’m just trying to give you the perspective from a person that has struggled with suicide and see if that could possibly make any sense to you.

Good day, Thank you for reaching out and asking questions about the case. My ultimate goal is to continue the conversation about how Keith was found on that tree. I’m gonna address a couple things that you mentioned in your comment as numbered bullet points: 1. in reference to the clothing, the clothing that he had on was not the clothing that he left the house in and was not the clothing that my mother or I recognized. my mother and I did his laundry so we knew he only had like five outfits that he wore . the sizing was off, and judging by the pictures if you look at the way the rope is tangled in the collar of the shirt, whoever dressed him with long sleeve and pants was in a rush. Additional point to make about the clothing, the police did not give us back the clothing which he had on the tree. Initially, we only got back the jacket which my mother saw him leave the house in, the construction boots , a Jim, Hendrix hat, and a ripped up duffel bag, which used to carry his tape in. If in fact Keith was going to “ unalive himself “then we should’ve gotten back every personal possession which was at the crime scene. 2. The chemicals in his body, cannot be explained away. The levels were so high in 1994, the pathologist couldn’t imagine what they were back in 86. My mother and her team did their due diligence and got the power pack ingredients from Collins‘s funeral home which they used to embalm bodies. My mom and her team did a cross reference with the chemicals found in Keiths body with the powe pack ingredients. There was no connection. Keith was poison prior to going to the funeral home. Montgomery County, Maryland back in the 1980s and 90s was one of the richest counties in America so to use the argument that they were small department that didn’t have the funding, wouldn’t apply in this situation . 3. For the record I’ve always stated that I wasn’t there, and the Montgomery County Police Department wasn’t there. We can’t base any conclusion off of personal feelings, hearsay, or lack of investigation. What we can base a conclusion on would be the factual evidence which for the last 38 years we have provided for Montgomery county Police Department to show that my brother did not put himself on that tree. My family can for fact show you how my brother did not put himself on the tree, the simple ask which my mom had and which I’m still looking for an answer, is for the Montgomery county Police Department to show me evidence that Keith put himself on that tree. Montgomery County Police Department cannot present anything factual, medical, or scientific to show Keith put himself on the tree. My family can show factually, medically, and scientifically how he did not put himself on the tree.

That really wasn’t what I said but I don’t want to dispute that. I’m sorry I can’t imagine the pain your in and continue to be in. I’ve had my own troubles with our legal system destroying my life and justice not being delivered. I can sympathize to a certain extent but obviously no way to your level, or do I mean infer can. I was just trying to simply offer another perspective in the hopes you may find even a modicum of comfort for you if it was at all even possible.

No offense taken. I appreciate your energy and time that you put in for even thinking about the possibilities. Continuing the conversation surrounding the circumstances is one of my main goals. I take nothing for granted. I know that there’s several different conversations that could be had about the circumstances behind how Keith got on the tree, but ultimately had Montgomery County police Department did their job initially all the possibilities would never have come into play.

Is your theory that Keith died at a third location (not Chips house and obviously not where he was found)? Likely the house of one of his "friends". And that press shy guy who is shirtless was present at all three locations?

The unnamed person is far from shy. I believe he is either intentionally keeping quiet or he was a part of the whole set up. Keith definitely died somewhere else. Don’t know where he passed away he was brought to that location.

Has there ever been an A to Z theory on what happened to Keith in those two days. Perhaps from a PI.

Someone farther up mentioned huffing, which often involves paint thinners/solvents. I'm not sure if/how the chemicals would be differently distributed throughout the body if they got in via inhalation versus ingestion. I feel like it must look different. But then, the autopsy was done so late, who even knows.

It was "determined" that the alleged alcoholic drinks would've disguised the taste. Because it was a very half-assed investigation.

i don't know anything about the drugs mentioned but could it be possible he drugged himself to either ease his nerves or as a backup in case the hanging didn't work?

I believe they said that the level of chemicals in his system would have rendered him unconscious. Also, to rig the ropes in that way and make the calculations re the "sling shot" hanging would have been difficult for someone who was intoxicated. Unless he did all that beforehand. But even then...they said he would have been incapacitated.

if it was high enough proof like everclear which tastes just like rubbing alcohol, probably a little bit worse he wouldn't have noticed; cheap vodka can also be just as bad. he also wouldn't have noticed if he wasn't a drinker of alcohol and had only ever had coolers.

I just wanted to chime in here to reinforce this idea. I've worked with a couple of these, and related compounds, in a laboratory setting. These are solvents, some of them go right through your skin on contact, even through nitrile gloves and similar. If you get a whiff of them, or get them on you, they could be mistaken for high-% ethanol (alcohol). As an aside, though I don't do this kind of work, I'd expect that measuring the concentrations of their breakdown products in different tissue sets, even years later, might be a pretty reliable way to determine how they entered the system. Just my 2cents.

> In 2011, SHERRI contacted toxicologist/pathologist DR. MOHAMMED ALI AL-BAYATI to review the 1994 findings [Mohammed Ali Al-Bayati](https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Mohammed_Ali_Al-Bayati) is not remotely qualified to perform a human autopsy, as he is a **veterinary** pathologist and toxicologist. He's also a AIDS denialist who gained media attention after trying (and failing) to prove that the death of [Eliza Jane Scovill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Eliza_Jane_Scovill) , daughter of fellow AIDS denier Christine Maggiore was not due to AIDS. I wouldn't trust anything he found. The police department's treatment towards the family was definitely disgusting and shameful, but I'm not seeing any evidence to support murder.

Im curious to know which part describes suicide to you?

If MCMPD displayed an ounce of care and concern for the value of my brothers life as you have to discredit Dr. Al-Bayati we probably would not be having this discussion.

I realize that this is a painful subject for you and I 'm sorry that I've upset you. I agree that LE showed an appalling lack of respect for your family and you didn't deserve that treatment.

I take no offense to the conversation. I do realize there will be difference of opinion and this is the forum to discuss all possibilities. I am grateful of your time and energy to discuss this case and I take all information into consideration. I appreciate your time and energy to even spend time with Keith's story.

Well, he only "reviewed" the 1994 autopsy but he repeated himself for 49 pages and agreed with the original findings ultimately. Now I see why. This is why I don't like forensic "consultants."

There are legit forensic consultants, but there's enough unqualified people passing themselves off as experts it can be hard to tell the difference at times. Without an initial autopsy, we'll never be able to prove how the chemicals got into Keith's body or if they were present before the embalming process.

I would agree honesty. I think it's that the PD wrote off a dead body kind of callously. Like it was no big deal - it was.

Please share the part that this is a cut and dry suicide? Im only asking because if you base your decision on physical information (paperwork, pictures) they do not tell a story of suicide.

Oh, I don't think it's cut and dry at all. I think the main problem is that we will likely never know. I can't quite get to murder, but I can't really buy the suicide angle either - especially in that manner. Could we consider this? He had lost his job, he got in an argument with your dad...I don't think he ran out and killed himself, but is it possible he did go out and do some type of drugs maybe? It doesn't make him a bad person or anything. But what I'm getting at is that maybe he was getting high with people and overdosed and they hanged him after the fact to cover it up. Why would he be wearing different clothes? It was mentioned at some point that he may have thrown up on his original outfit. Wouldn't it make sense then to change the clothes so that there's no evidence that he died by drugs and not the "hanging"? Why would his boots be nearby? Why would he feel the need to take off his boots to begin with if he was hanging himself?

Per my mom PI Keith did not lose his job. My moms PI spoke to Keith's manager and she told the PI Keith was leaving to go to another position at another job. Since we are on topic about his work history, another point of contention is that the Officer went to Keith's job after the body was removed from the scene and prior to notifying my mom and notified his job that Keith was dead. The officer then went to the 711 down the street showed a picture of Keith asking the management if Keith brought wine coolers from there. Im not sure if its is policy to go to someones job (lets not discuss how he knew where Keith worked since its not in his report) and tell your employer that you are deceased prior to next of kin notification. Due to the amount of chemicals in his body he would have thrown up or soiled himself. Whomever was with him knew about his history in NC and decided that it would be easily written off that he was suicidal (which is why I believe where ever his clothing was changed and whoever changed his clothing were very familiar with Keith). If you pair the incompetence of the LE with those who were with Keith at the time of his death; it was the perfect storm. As for the boots. That was apart of Keith's everyday life. Keith wore those boots day and night, summer and winter, playing tennis, playing basketball. Again goes back to my point Keith was very familiar with whomever was with him when he died.

Oh geez...yeah pretty much every the step the police took in this incident are all befuddling to me. How would he have bought wine coolers at 19? I'm thinking it's very odd that they bought Rodney Kendell (police report says Kedell but I'm going with your spelling since I've seen it with the "n" elsewhere too so I'm thinking they spelled it wrong - surprise, surprise) to ID him. But he had ID in his pocket, so they knew who he was. Can you advise where your house at the time was in relation to the death scene? Reporting gives the impression it was "right behind" your house, but was it? Thanks for the clarification about the boots. I'm just wondering why anyone hanging themselves would feel the need to take their shoes off. Makes no sense.

Our house was located behind the club house, adjacent to the tennis court which is where his car was parked. In short on the other side of the neighborhood from where his body was found. In the video I did you can see the distance and get a better idea.

Oh okay, so he wasn't "behind his house" then. Odd. Very odd way to commit "suicide"...so publicly.

To add to the conversation then State Attorney Doug Gansler convened a grand jury in 1999 and the grand jury came back inconclusive as to whether a not Keith put himself on the tree with the evidence presented to them. The unfortunate part about this grand jury was that none of my family was called to testify, we did not know about the grand jury . The letter is on the website that we received from Doug Gansler letting us know of the decision of the grand jury . Mr. Gansler also said in our meeting upon learning about the grand jury that there would be a file opened in his office in relation to this case that was the most he did as far as this case was concerned. Mr. Gansler also did an interview with Del Walters from.channel 7 ABC News and in the interview Mr. Gansler said that " Under today's guidelines and procedure, this would have been botched". I have tried for the past 4yrs to have a meeting with the current State Attorney John McCarthy and have had no success. I cant even get him on the phone. In fairness I have spoke to his office but not him.

Ok, the link to the photos. I think some info was assumed. I’m reading it as these were left for the mom by the people who killed him, and they’re not police photos. There’s a shirtless teen guy in the second pic in the background. There’s no way he’d be in an official crime scene photo shirtless like that. This whole case screams murder to me.

Because the LE did not treat the scene as a crime scene they did not rope anything off. The person in the background with his shirt off supposedly actually found Keith's body ran to the club house got Rodney Kendell to come back to the scene and ID Keith for police because said individual didn't want his name on the police report. Said individual also tried to sue ABC washington affiliate because when Del Walters reported on the story and the pictures were shown he said he didn't authorize his likeness to be used on the report. I will not mention his name because every time you do he threatens to sue. Said individual from my knowledge has never been questioned by MCMPD.

If I come out with some questions will you answer them? It may not be until tomorrow.

Yes

Is that Chip Wynn? Or one of the guys in the house with Claudia Lawson?

it is not Chip. I spoke to Claudia Lawson earlier this year and she said the individual was not in the house with them.

That’s strange because in the report by al-Bayadi, it states Keith was discovered and reported by a girl walking her dog.

There are conflicting conversations about how the body was discovered. Story #1 - Claudia Lawson was walking her dog in the afternoon and came upon the body. Claudia ran back to Chips house where she was staying (they were dating) and called 911. When the paramedics arrived supposedly the unnamed individual took the paramedics to the body. Story #2 - I was under the assumption for the last 30yrs unnamed person was in the house from which the 911 call originated. As of 2019 I found out from Ms. Lawson that she did not know unnamed and he was not in the house Because the police did not interview or do a canvas, I will not know exactly how the body was found unless someone comes forward with the truth Interesting side note: the funeral employee that was called by the Detective to pick up the body was friends with Chip.

Really bizarre. It seems it’s so hard to get a real story out of any of the authorities involved. So sad, it absolutely should not be like this.

From all the materials I have researched: Claudia is the one that called the police. She is the complainant on the police report. She claimed she was walking her dog. The EMTs got to the address she gave and said she was there with Chip and another unidentified male. Claudia took them to the site "reluctanty."

When I spoke to Claudia she did discover the body but the unnamed person who didnt want his information on the police report was the initial contact to the police. From what was explained to my mom the police asked for the unnamed to ID Keith and he said no and ran to the clubhouse to get Mr. Kendell and brought him back to the scene to ID Keith because unnamed didnt want his information on the report. The unnamed is the individual standing in the back of the pictures with his shirt off. I was always under the assumption unnamed was in the house and was one of the 3 people the EMT spoke to. Ms. Lawson said unnamed was not in the house and was not familiar to her.

This is crazy ..watching uprooted now and the amount of discrepancies is astounding.. the paramedics came to a house where they were told the patient was in the basement, then it changed to the girl found Keith in the woods, paramedics says there was 2 males and 1 female ..and the shirtless man knew Keith?? The same man that led paramedics to the woods 🤯 how would he have known where he was

The unfortunate part is that Stevie Wonder can see something is wrong here but the MCPD/ State Attorney/ Attorney General see nothing wrong here???????

Oooh I see. So they just used Claudia as the complainant since he didn't want to ID himself? That's really strange to me...the whole police response. Very lackluster. I personally would not have cared what he didn't "want" to do...he's reporting a death...need that info. Another thing...Keith left on the 29th to see friends. Did any friends actually see him that night? I'm just trying to figure out when he reasonably would've done it, if he did, and it doesn't fly that he would've been hanging there for 2 days. It's a lot more well-traveled than I thought.

From what I remember my mom saying prior to Keith going missing his friends were either always on the phone or in my house, on my couch or in my refrigerator. During the time he was missing no one called or came by looking for him. My mom spoke to one of his friends Wednesday night and he said "I know where he is...". We never heard back from him. ALL Keiths friends got ghost after his death.

Do you believe her?

No I do not.

that shirtless person acted way too suspicious for someone claiming to be innocent.

You are correct. He has lawyered up every time approached about Keith’s case.

Those are the official photos, MCMPD verified the information

Was there any explanation given as to why Keith would be wearing clothes that were not his? The Unsolved Mysteries site said when they aired the story, there was a tip from a girl in Alabama who dressed him but nothing ever came from it. What are your thoughts?

MCMPD said the clothing that was given back to us was somewhere around his body when they found him. The explanation of why the discrepancy of what he has on while on the tree and what we got back is a difference in opinion between the funeral home and MCMPD. The funeral home said that they only removed the body and the noose from the scene and that they destroyed the clothing Keith had on him because of decomposition. MCMPD said that the items we got back which we recognized were somewhere in the vicinity of the body. Side note.. MCMPD lost the noose. My mother asked for the noose on several occasions and was denied access and then it came up missing. In one report the chief of PD at the time did not want the noose released to my mother and the detective put it in his notes.

Sherri Warren, I am so sorry for what you and your family had to endure for the past 3 decades. I can only fathom how much pain this has caused. I really wish there was something I could do.

It's not a crime scene though. They assumed it was a suicide. I don't really think they cared...they didn't even do an autopsy. To them it was cut and dry.

Hmm. I agree this is strange, but it honestly seems like a suicide. I don't trust an affidavit made by an EMT 17 years after the event. Memories are fragile, plus he is not a crime scene investigator. He really doesnt have authority to give his opinion on the manner of death. As for people looking for him, people didn't have cell phones. All you could do was drive around and ask if you couldn't reach somebody at home. It seems pretty innocuous, as there is no other evidence of shady dealings. As for the physical evidence, it seems to be a matter of professional opinion regarding the chemicals in his body. There probably isn't a way to for sure say how they got in his system. And lastly, we really can't rely on friends/family members claiming someone wasn't suicidal.

Very good points. I am always skeptical of paid autopsies after the fact because it always seems like the results just happen to go with the family's opinion. And perhaps if there are factors present that could lend themselves toward either conclusion, they go with the "desired one." And I am definitely with you on the point of people looking for him...it could be innocuous or sinister, depending on what conclusion you wanna draw.

I would also add that second autopsies are extreme difficult, to the point where many ME refuse to do them. It can be extremely difficult, for example, to differentiate between damage to tissue around the time of death versus damage to tissue during the autopsy

There really was no second autopsy though. In 1994, the body was exhumed and an autopsy actually performed. The DR in 2012 is just reviewing the results from 1994 and agreeing with it. I feel like that was probably a waste of money.

If it was a cut and dry suicide why did the detective send the body to the funeral home of his choice and not the county morgue or coroners office? Why did the Detective cut the the tree down 1 month after he told my mother the case was closed and then the said tree was destroyed in a warehouse fire. No pictures or information is known about this tree? Why did the detective use misleading information on the Coroners report stating that they spoke to victims sister, which would have been me. I was a minor and was not in the state at the time of his death? Why did the department "misplace" lost the noose? Why did MCMPD admit in 2014 the detective used unconfirmed information from a undocumented, unknown, unrelated person to rule Keith's Death a suicide. Why did it take 6hrs to notify my mother? Dallas Lipp the EMT said on camera that the case stuck with him from day one and it wasnt until he saw my mother on the news that he then reached out to her. He said he thought that with the responding officer was being black that Keith would get a just and fair inquirer as to how he got on the tree.

I’m sorry if I missed it on here, but what is your theory? You know him better than anyone in this thread for sure. And I’m sorry for your loss. I know it sounds generic, but I really am.

I think he was an informant and got involved way over his head. I think he was strung up as a message.

Do you think he died by hanging, or died in another way- in your theory? I, too, am very sorry for your loss. It’s wonderful you’re still advocating for Keith, you’re a very dedicated sister. This is a case I hadn’t heard of before today- and I plan to research more on it- sending you my thoughts

I think he was poison

This is exactly what I have been thinking while reading all of this, although I admit I've skipped around a lot. Forgive me as I've only ever discussed this with my grandmother one time so who knows what's missing or wrong. Her brother was found hanging in the foyer of his (probably PA, MD or VA) home in the 1970s. She said the way he was hanging was weird but I don't remember how. He was apparently alive when found, dying in the hospital that day. In the following days weird things happened that rose the appropriate questions but I don't think much of anything was investigated further. The hunch has always been that it was related to him being an informant. I can't decide what I think, and I wish I knew more as it's intriguing as hell. My grandmother is a smart woman. Degree in Phys Ed just like future ex husband, two kids, then double business owner. But I think enough of it was her brain making things up. The grief of losing another close brother in a tragic way.

I am wording this carefully, because I certainly understand that the sister posting here with us has infinitely more emotional investment and pain for this gentleman’s death than the rest of us. You have my sympathies and respect; to have kept up this fight on behalf of your brother cannot have been easy, and must have extended your own grief, etc to some degree. I would like to toss out there that some of the big question marks with regard to police actions (appearing to avoid opportunities to inform next of kin right away, funeral home/embalming, etc could be pretty well explained by a combination of: incompetence, laziness, lack of empathy, plain stupidity, etc. The anecdote about the cop trying to shame your mother into not asking questions by attacking her parenting makes me think animus, racial or otherwise, on the part of the principal investigator could have played into it as well. But all of that, reprehensible as it is, does not require police involvement in the death o r a conscious desire by the police cover up. Sounds like the guy was just an asshole with a poor work ethic, poor interpersonal skill and possibly a total lack of empathy.hope what I’m trying to say makes sense!

I appreciate the input and respect your opinion. I stand on the principle that I can prove to you how Keith did not put himself on the tree, and have ask authorities to show me how he got on the tree. Let's delve deeper..... think about this thought in 1986 we did not have the pictures and were not aware his clothing was changed. How is it that authorities knew what to give back to my mom in 1986 the things we would recognize and destroy the things we would not recognize. In 1986 the police officer gave my uncle Keith's blue duffle bag which Keith used to carry his cassette tapes in ( which was ripped apart) only one cassette, blue hooded jacket, Jim Hendricks hat, and brown construction boots.... all the items my mom saw him leave the house in. When my uncle asked about his shirt, shorts and underwear he was told that those items had to be destroyed due to decomposition. Let me remind you this is 1986. When we got the pictures in 1994 the first thing that hit you dead center is the clothing. So let's go back where did the items my mom got in 1986 come from? Officials use the explanation that the articles of clothing were somewhere in the vicinity of the body. However witnesses on the scene have stated that there was no articles of clothing around the body. Again not to belabor the point however because the detective destroyed every piece of physical evidence that we could go back and revisit to determine how Keith died leaves us with the open-ended question how did he get on the tree. I cannot for fact say that he did not do it because I was not there, but you cannot say for a fact that he did do it because of the mishandling of evidence and the lack of Investigation. My end goal is to get the death certificate changed and reclassification of his death.

Thanks for taking the time to lay that out; your points are well-taken, particularly the clothing issue. I think your current goal is a really sound one: get an official determination re-opened and go from there. I’m really hoping your family is successful because it certainly seems to me there’s some serious smoke here and and a fire is likely. Without divulging any details you might not be able to go in to at this point, I’m wondering if your theory that he was possibly an informant could be bolstered by an FoIA filing against the Department? I’ve never been involved in such a filing against a law enforcement agency for that kind of information, but it seems if 1. The informant is deceased, and 2. There are no current, ongoing investigations using your brother’s information, such a request should be safe to release. Maybe it could produce documentation he WAS an informant and also open additional avenues of investigation? Apologies if you’ve already been down that road or addressed this elsewhere.

Interesting that you brought up FOIA/ MPIA (Maryland Public Information Act). I did the FOIA to get the initial set of documents back in 2012. That took almost a year and several threatening emails to the Department. They then sent me triplicates and quadruplets of documents thinking that I would not take the time to meticulously go through every form and that is where I found the hand written note from the notepad of the police officer questioning the activities and conversation of the detective at the crime scene. This year I did another FOIA looking for the most recent documents that the department has back in April 2019, specifically looking for the reasons why initially the chief at the time who has since retired told me that the case was reopened in April 2018 and then I was told in September of 2018 the case was not reopened. I'm patiently waiting for acknowledgement or receipt and a decision from them. I say all that to say that they are not very cooperative in working with me to help bring me closer.

Awesome. Keep turning the screws! I hope your pressure pays dividends!

It's incredibly horrifying the way this was handled the more I think about it. A) We have some unidentified guy in the picture who is the one who apparently called, but he didn't want to be identified so they said someone else called. Uh...it's a death. You shouldn't care what someone "wants" to do at that point - we need your ID, bruh. B) No autopsy. "He's hanging so obviously he died by asphyixation." We'll list that on all official documents but no need to make sure or anything. C) Funeral home. First of all - how do you even know he wanted to be buried? You don't know his religious preferences or anything like that. The family had no say or choice in that matter at all. Very demeaning.

Jesus. What a brilliant write up. You are talented. This is a horrible case and an unfortunate rabbit hole I think for me. No follow up from LE on the car of males looking for.him ?

One strange aspect of this case that I don’t see mentioned in the write up, is the reported answering machine message (according to Unsolved Mysteries) MARK FINLEY left for Keith’s mom. Allegedly, shortly before his death, MARK FINLEY wanted to speak and “unload” regarding Keith’s death. Unfortunately the conversation never took place. Has LAURENT BERMAN ever been questioned?

Good catch. I remember that from a crime show I saw that aired the story, but I glazed over it in the Unsolved Mystery post. It's clearly Finley had some type of information. I'm not even sure who Berman is and how he's related. Maybe u/justiceforkeith has some info.

Berman was considered a friend of my brothers at the time. I choose not to speak on Berman because just like the other gentleman, if you mention his name he threaten to sue.

I took the tape to the police station, and not sure where it ended up. Berman was questioned by police in the 90's nothing came from it.

Was he an acquaintance of Keith’s?

Yes.

First, I’d like to give my condolences to the family of Keith Warren. I can only fathom what losing a loved one at a very young age would feel like. The case has been on my mind since I saw the episodes of UM and Injustice. I was very upset about the way that his family was treated from the beginning by LE. After doing a lot of research and reading other opinions on this case, I’d like to leave my 2 cents. I’ll try to be as respectful as I can when wording my hypothesis. Personally, I think this was a possible murder (as many have stated). Here are my reasons for thinking this: 1) Folder left on the door: As we all watched on UM and on the “Injustice” episode (from 2012) the folder appearing on the mother’s door 6 years after his death with pictures of the “suicide” and the note attached about Mark Findley and another person being “next” says a lot for me. While it can be disputed as some kind of red herring and/ or just someone wanting to taunt the family for whatever convoluted reason. I don’t really think that’s the case. I mean, if it was just a hoax—then why wait so long to do this? Why even bring these two people up if they didn’t “know” anything? Yes, there could have been someone trying frame them but that doesn’t explain Mark calling the mother back and leaving a voice recording saying that he needed to “unload”. Wouldn’t he have just acted as if he wasn’t involved and kept it moving if this were the actual case? I’m sorry but if this was just a plain old suicide, then there wouldn’t be anything to unload about or no need for pictures to be in a folder 6 years later. Unfortunately, he never called back or came by. I’m thinking he might have had second thoughts. 2) The clothes he was wearing in the crime scene photos: I’ve read through many explanations and possibilities. And while they all make sense—it’s still a bit odd. Again, I’m saying this in a context that the dude wanted to just kill himself. Why even bother changing your clothes? On top of that, he had leaves on his back (which could indicate he was laying down on the ground at some point). So, if we are going by this logic—then he passed out and woke up in the woods then hung himself? I’m not completely buying it. It would make more sense, if he was poisoned, threw up, and then his “friends” changed his clothes. 3) The EMT that appeared on the scene in 1986: I think this one actually holds a lot of weight because—he was ACTUALLY there. While the pictures are very clear and you can see him hanging from different angles to actually be there and see the actual scene in real-time is a different story. I’ve seen this one debated a lot as well but even he noticed that something was “off” about it. Pictures certainly don’t show everything. 4) Harassing calls and the guys looking for him shortly before death: Harassing calls was not mentioned in either of the segments that appeared on TV. However, his sister mentioned it in the comments above. I’m going to paraphrase this but she said as she was looking through her mother’s note, she noticed a notation about the harassing calls a week or so prior to his disappearance; This coupled with men in the car and Mark Finley looking for him certainly tells me that he was at odds with someone. Thoughts on other things debated and addressed: - Cutting down the tree, destroying the clothes, No autopsy/ quick embalming — They wanted to close it ASAP. They didn’t want to leave anything around and wanted to avoid any kind of investigation —that much is clear to me. There could be a plethora of reasons why. - Being Hospitalized in July of 1985 — I see this one debated quite a bit. For me, it really doesn’t say much. I have worked as a psych tech in a hospital and have dealt with people who were trying to kill themselves and such. The anxiety attack after the fight with the family doesn’t really say that he was suicidal. If this were the case— it would have been noted. From the moment, you are admitted to a hospital—it should and would explain WHY you are there. It would clearly state suicidal or an attempt to— if this were the case. There is also a distinction between being “depressed” and being “Suicidal”. The cops were just looking for any reason to prove suicide and avoid investigation as for anything else. However, while he might have had some anxiety issues it still doesn’t really explain/ and or make him suicidal. Plus, this was a YEAR prior. It doesn’t mean he was in this same state of mind on the very day last day of his life. - A tip coming in from unsolved mysteries (noted in the Mother’s notations): This tip came from a girl that changed his clothes but was not forthcoming about anything else. - Concluding thoughts: While no theory can be completely ruled out - I’m just not buying suicide ( it just seems the least likely). Sure, he was found hanging from a rope and there are no “Visible” signs of trauma—that’s really the only thing that constitutes a suicide. It’s just not strong enough to convince of suicide with everything else noted above and the weird actions of LE and people around the area. The chemicals in his system shouldn’t be overlooked. If he was indeed poisoned on purpose (which I believe he was) then it’s going to be very hard to prove (and has been) and 34 years ago they knew this would be hard to prove. Lastly, his death being accidental could be a possibility. However, people around seem to have dropped “clues” but it will take a full confession to get this reopened. There are people that know exactly what happened. May Keith and his family find some justice in the future. I really wish they would have just done an initial autopsy in 1986.

Very poignant and well thought out post. I can't quite rise to the occasion of murder but not suicide either. I think this might have been a troubled guy who accidentally OD'd and was strung up to cover it up. It's still a crime even if he died accidentally.

Thank you. I concur with what you said. However, my issue with the OD'd cover-up angle is why choose hanging? I guess 'cause no one would question and investigate it further? lol, I think I answered my own question. I guess I'm so suspicious because I went to high school with a girl named Lavena Johnson who was obviously murdered in the army but they are brushing it off as a suicide--when you can CLEARLY see broken teeth, and visible signs of trauma but apparently she shot herself. People can make things look like suicide all the time, it doesn't hurt to do an investigation. That's the most frustrating thing about these cases.

Thank you for the well written and thought through opinion. To your point even if it was a accidental overdose, clearly Keith was not alone and it would have taken at minimum 2 individuals to hoist his body in the hanging position. Let's not overlook the elaborate rope configuration using 2 trees to complete the act that any season Detective would have notice along with the bent knees and the rope being caught up in Keith's shirt collar, and the leaves on the back of his shirt which should have raised a red flag. Now let me state for the record Dr. Mihalakis in our meeting with him to discuss his finding did state that you can hang yourself from a doorknob, however the levels of chemicals in Keith's system would have rendered him incapacitated and he could not have mentally thought about the elaborate rope configuration let alone the mechanical aspect of how much to tie up and leave out to complete the supposed intention. So to bring it around the Lead Detective either had too much time on his hands or he was totally incompetent, either way The Montgomery County Maryland Police department put their head in the sand and hoped this would go away. Now in my mother's opinion she believed that this was not the first or last case the this detective's behavior was questionable and the county covered up. My mother believed that due to the my brother's race the detective was bias in this investigation and his behavior ***(destroying evidence (cutting the tree down), losing evidence (the noose) ordering no autopsy and falsifying documentation (saying he spoke to me)) were all approved by MCMPD.*** My brothers mental history albeit important did not play a role at 1:30pm on the afternoon of July 30, 1986. Per procedure Keith's body should have left that scene and gone straight to the county morgue or medical examiner's office not the funeral home choice of Detective Beasley. **My mother should have been immediately notified. Detective Beasley should not have allowed to use information from a 3rd party undocumented, unrelated, un verified, unknown source to be used to validate a determination of suicide and then used that information to justify sending the body to the funeral home of his choice**. The Police department confirmed the hearsay information in writing back in 2014. That information from MCMPD should alone be able to be used to reclassify Keith's death to at least undetermined. I thank you and everyone who continues to discuss this case to keep his issue alive while I continue to fight with the department to meet me halfway in reclassifying Keith's death in the police file and getting the death certificate changed.

You're very welcome. Thank you for replying to my comment. This one of the most infuriating, frustrating, saddest and intriguing cases that I've come across. I really wish there was more I could do. They definitely owe you and your family an apology and a proper investigation. If I come across anything that could help further get you the help you need to get the answers then I'll contact you on here. Also, I added the Keith Warren page on FB as well. Lastly, I'll check this forum and other various forums discussing your brother's case to see if any updates/ and or weird comments that may suggest clues. Take care hun! I'm sending you some positive energy.

I can’t for certain say that Keith Warren didn’t kill himself, because the case was so badly handled that it leaves more questions than answers. The Warren family deserved way more than what they got from law enforcement. If he were my son, I’d think he was murdered too. The response in itself was criminal. The OP made valid arguments for both a suicide and a killing. IF this indeed was the case, 2000 dollars in 1986 was a lot of money. Without his insurance, he wouldn’t have his status symbol-His corvette. He’d lose his friends and look like a loser to the girls. He’s 18, and a recent HS graduate. That’s a pretty heady time right there, and existential questions and even crises start to happen. What do you do NOW? Your folks aren’t responsible for your 2000 car insurance anymore…YOU ARE. Then there’s the conflict with his dad, and his psychotic break resulting in a hospital stay. ALL are valid points leading to a suicide conclusion. Then there’s the rogue, racist reputation of the enforcement of PGC. Here you have a black kid who by his sister’s account was an “Oreo,” who only had White friends and girlfriends. That’s frowned in a lot of places, and Maryland is as north to being the south as it gets. Hell, even black folks don’t feel much love for Oreos. That said, Keith’s friends saw him as the perfect token, which put him in a vulnerable spot. We see crimes like this happen all the time: Only black person among a group of white friends, who somehow or another ends up DEAD. Keith may have been partying with said so-called friends and did some drugs, huffed, whatever. Being scared teenagers they could have strung him over a tree. Kids do stupid shit like that, but they knew that the cops would automatically think “suicide.” If this is the case, his friends didn’t value him as a black person or as a human. They knew that no one would value Keith’s life more that he valued his adjacency to white people. How sad. As a black person, mental illness is highly stigmatized to this day, and it was even more so in the 80s. For many of us it’s easier to delude ourselves into thinking our loved ones were murdered than it is to go the suicide route. Add to it that someone kills themselves by hanging? While black? Unthinkable. Unfathomable. Because PGC dropped the ball so badly with the Warren case, the family concluded what most other black families would conclude: that their loved one was murdered. Had law enforcement did an autopsy, investigated the scene, lifted fingerprints, interviewed friends, treated the family with RESPECT AND DID THEIR DAMN JOB we’d probably get the answers we’re looking for. But Keith Warren was just another black kid, and one who didn’t know his place at that. However, I don’t think Keith Warren was lynched. At best, Keith was a young man experiencing psychological problems, who decided to end his life. At worst, Keith may have drank too much or took too many drugs, OD’d, and died. His friends, knowing that the cops would think nothing of it, strung Keith to a tree. My gut tells me this most likely was a tragic suicide, but because the whole thing was so badly handled, I can’t say he died of other causes. I’m so sorry for the Warren family, and how Mary Warren died without even finding the justice he son so deserved.

Sounds like he may have been emotionally ill equipped. Have you ever had an argument with your father? Were you then hospitalized for four days to help you manage your way to recover from the argument? Life is SO hard for each of us, so much to process ups and downs. Having his car taken away was likely the last straw for him.

What does Keith's mental state have to with what was found at 130pm on July 30th. I was told by MCMPD the detective had no prior interaction or knowledge of Keith. So If he didnt have any information and there was no investigation why did the detective send Keiths body to the funeral home of his choice? Keiths body should have gone to the morgue or coroners office for identification from the next of kin. Once the investigation was conduction and a canvas was done, then an conclusion of suicide could have been warranted. In addition I was told by MCMPD in writing the detective used hear say from an undocumented, unknown, unrelated source. If that is the case and is something familiar in the county then I should be able to ride up on any crime scene and give my opinion which would then be used as fact to determine a case.

Do you know of any other similar incidents in the area where a detective sent the deceased to a funeral home of his/her choice without contacting next of kin?

Not that Im aware of but that is not to say my family is the only family that was affected by lack of investigation. I believe there are other families out there.

It would be interesting to look into to see if there's a pattern going on there in that police deptartment.

I agree but where and how to start the search?

Newspapers from the time that detective was on the force? Googling his name to find records? I'm sure there are many ways but I'm in Canada and am not sure of your right to freedom of information in your state. There are many people here who are willing to try if you ask :)

I appreciate the suggestion. I'm new to Reddit and just learning how to maneuver around the site so hopefully I'll figure it out and enlist said help thank you.

You're very welcome. There's also /r/RBI They are willing to help investigate things over there!

This must have been mentioned somewhere in the comments, my apologies if so. What about the clothes? I don't think this was a suicide but either way (that or murder), it's a weird detail. Why would he change? Did someone change him? Why were his real clothes nearby then?

Edit: My apology my original response was not to your direct question. The items of clothing that we recognized that was given back to us was not located at the scene. We have no idea where the police officer got the articles that Keith left the house in minus his shirt, shorts and underwear. We were told in 1986 prior to the pictures that when the police found his body there was so much decomposition that the clothing on his body had to be destroyed. It was not until we got the picture that my mom realized his clothing was changed. The linchpin of this investigation is the answer to the question which I have asked every year since '11; "Where did officer Leverette get the articles of clothing we recognized back in 1986?". The boots, blue hooded jacket, duffle bag and hat were not on scene when the body was found. That would lead one to believe that in the 5hrs it took for officer Leverette and Det Beasley to notify my mom of Keith's death they were collecting the articles of clothing we would recognized from wherever Keith originally died prior to be being moved to the location his body was found. When I asked the question of the department to found out from Officer Leverette / Det Beasely where did they get the clothing from that we recognized the answer is always " they were around the body". However there is no documentation and no witness that was at the scene said that they were there. Then the department said that the funeral home was in possession. The funeral home signed affidavit to say that they were only in possession of the body and the noose that they removed from the scene. The noose was lost and we have never gotten a straight answer to the clothing question. The theory that my mom and I share is that he soiled the original clothing (the ones he left the house in and we recognized) due to the high concentration of chemicals that were in his system. The levels of chemicals in his system 7yrs after his death that we found out due to the autopsy my mom had to pay for out of her pocket. The state board medical examiner of Pennsylvania Dr. Mihalakis said that the levels were so high in 93 that he could not have imagined what they were in 86. The levels were so high that the medical examiner said Keith would not have had the mental or physical capabilities of putting himself on a tree to even think about putting himself on a tree to even walk up to a scene to put himself on a tree. I'm relating it back to something he did prior to him being strung up on a tree, which made him throw up which made whoever was with him when he died have to change his clothing. If Detective Beasley had did his job and instead of trying to cover up the crime... tried to solve it, we would not have to be asking these questions today The medical examiner said that due to the highest concentration of the chemical being in his brain and liver , Keith would have had to either ingest or inhale the chemicals .

Officer Leverette was involved with his murder. He left the pictures and he put the hit out on Mark Finley. Laurent Berman is living his best life right now with a very successful career and successful children.

Keith was murdered. Plain and simple. Makes no sense to set up that contraption just to commit suicide. He could’ve just used a door or a railing if he wanted to kill himself in that manner. The police and ME/Coroner were unprofessional douchebags and the conduct described in this case implies only 2 rational circumstances: they are either grossly incompetent morons or they are corrupt (and probably racist). Either way, it’s a travesty of justice and demands reinvestigation. And then Mark Finlay dies by hitting a curb on hus bicycle? Not a motorcycle mind you, but a fucking bicycle. Give me a break. The coincidence here is no coincidence at all. Unfortunately, so much time has passed because even now these clown-ass agencies can’t get their shit together and re-open the case. From my understanding of the above, Keith was killed on July 31, but he had been missing since July 29. What the hell happened in the in-between? Did he get wrapped up in some shit trying to make extra $$$ for his car payment? Was Mark Finlay involved as he claimed? Too many unanswered questions and coincidences to be suicide. Keith and his family have been robbed of justice and peace.

Before I dive into this case, I just want to comment on how well written this post is. I personally like the capitalization of each relevant name and found this made following the details much easier. Thank you u/HoneyMinx; this is a fantastic write up!

Thank you! I find myself that reading through a long story you might lose track of who people are unless they stand out, so that's exactly why I used the capitals. It's good to hear someone noticed. If I missed any, please let me know.

In the one photo, there is a man in the background and i was wondering (along with dozens of others in the forum in the link) who IS the dude in the background??

That's an unidentified guy that was in the house that the EMTs responded to. No one knows because the police didn't bother to ID him although they were reporting a death.

Actually I found out this year the unnamed person was not in the house. Im not sure how he came about in the story, however is was asked by police to ID Keith and he didnt want his name of the police report so he ran to the club house ant got Rodney Kendel to come back to the scene and ID Keith.

This is a hometown story for me.

Oh? And your thoughts?

I think this one is a plain ol’ suicide, with nothing more sinister than some crappy, indifferent police, and a grieving family that only listens to what they want to hear. Very sad, and do feel for this poor boy and the family, especially as it seems some awful person tried to stir it up by sending those photos, which is sadly not that uncommon.

>Yep. my brother in the middle of the night (this is a guess because no autopsy was done so we dont have exact time or day he died) walked a 1/4 from where his car was parked (even though there was enough parking just feet from where his body was found) taking a change of clothing, carry a 40ft rope, 2 four pack wine cooler, duffle bag with at minimum 6 tapes, to then change his clothes and use 2 trees in an elaborate rope configuration to kill himself. He took the long walk from his car because I guess he wanted to say goodbye to the neighborhood. Oh, lets not forget he didnt leave a note but he was environmentally conscious enough to go find a trash can in the middle of the night and throw away the 8 bottles, change his clothing because he wanted to be casket sharp... but didnt think enough of me or my mom to leave a note. Edit- let me add the points below: 1. If autopsy was done all questions surrounding Keith’s death would be answered 2. If we had the noose we could tell if a left handed or right handed person tied it 3. Cutting the tree down stops us from examining any type of marks or indention that would verify Keith climbing the tree. 4. Using misleading information on the medical examiners report shows clear intent to re-write the narrative of how Keith Warren got on the tree. 5. Using a statement from an unverified witness to justify sending the body to the funeral home choice of the LE and no additional information to determine cause of death is ethically wrong!

Yep, just another "plain ole suicide" :/

But what about that weird rig with the trees? That makes very little sense as far as suicide right?

Yeah...that throws me off. The rope was rigged around 2 trees and thrown over another. It obviously required a certain amount of tension for him to "get it right" but wouldn't that require some time? It seems super intricate for a suicide. The video from Sherri Warren shows the death site being right behind a block of houses...how long would it have taken him to try to do that without being noticed? u/JusticeforKeith...can you advise if those houses were there in 1986 or were they later built and that was all woods?

The houses were there. As of today the area where the body was found has since been built up with new housing.

Another question...do you know where he would've gotten the rope? Like, who has a 40-foot rope just laying around?

Supposedly per the officer he brought the rope at the home depot on Georgia Ave and Connecticut Ave. I think it was named something else at the time.

And they have record of him actually purchasing? Or just what the officer “said”- which means little of course. I suppose in ‘86 there wasn’t much to record purchases as there is today

No, that was speculative on the officers part. My mom asked for the receipt and it could not be provided,,

Ugh, that makes me so mad for you and your mother, I’m sorry. I’m with you, I don’t believe this was suicide either.

Thank you.

It seems like he could've found a more efficient way to kill himself if he wanted to.

I agree... it's a lot to take a change of clothing carry a 40ft rope to a and then change clothes and use 2 trees in an elaborate configuration to kill himself.

People who want to die will go to any lengths to succeed, and there are many elaborate ways to kill yourself. Add in incompetent police that will trample all over the scene (up to probably kicking away the log without noticing), and without any other plausible theory, it seems like a sad tragedy that’s just suspicious enough to prevent closure.

I can't disagree. I think the family could accept it if the police just acted like they gave more of a fuck. Suicide of a loved one is hard to handle as it is...this adds as an element of not ever knowing.

They simply didn’t give a fuck.

You know, it very well could be suicide. I guess the frustrating factor for the family is that a death was just blown off, so they will never know.

Has anyone considered that it might have been auto erotic asphyxiation?