Biography[]
Early life[]
Israel Keyes was born on January 7, 1978, in Richmond, Utah, USA. Raised in a strict religious household, he exhibited an early fascination with violence and death. His childhood was marked by a nomadic lifestyle as his family frequently moved, making it challenging for him to form stable social connections.
Criminal Beginnings[]
Keyes's criminal activities began to surface in the early 2000s. He exhibited a pattern of escalating criminal behavior, including burglaries and arson. Despite his criminal tendencies, he managed to maintain a relatively low profile.
Methodical and Calculated Crimes[]
Keyes was known for his meticulous planning and calculated approach to crime. His modus operandi involved selecting victims at random and keeping a significant gap between the planning and execution of his crimes, making it difficult for authorities to connect them.
Murder Spree[]
Keyes's most infamous criminal activities occurred between 2001 and 2012. He confessed to a series of murders, indicating that the actual number could be higher than what was confirmed. The locations of his crimes varied, as he targeted victims across the United States.
Abduction and Murder Techniques[]
Keyes did not adhere to a specific victim profile, making it challenging for law enforcement to predict his actions. He used various methods, including abductions, arson, and bank fraud, to carry out his crimes. Keyes often buried "kill kits" containing weapons and tools in remote locations to be used later.
Murder of Samantha Koenig[]
- Main article: Samantha Koenig
Samantha Koenig, 18, was a barista from Anchorage, Alaska, who tragically became a victim of Israel Keyes. On February 1, 2012, Keyes meticulously abducted Koenig from the coffee stand where she worked, eventually leading to her demise. Despite receiving a ransom, Keyes killed Koenig, dismembered her body, and disposed of it in Matanuska Lake. The investigation into Koenig's disappearance played a pivotal role in exposing Keyes' extensive criminal activities.
Capture and Suicide[]
On March 13, 2012, Keyes's crime spree came to an end when he was arrested in Texas for the murder of Samantha Koenig. During interrogation, he provided details about several other murders. However, before a comprehensive confession could be obtained, Keyes committed suicide in his jail cell on December 2, 2012.
Victims[]
Confirmed victims[]
| Name | Age | Disappeared | Date of Death | Body Found | Cause of Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Currier | 50 | June 8, 2011 | June 9, 2011 | Never found | Shooting |
| Lorraine Currier | 55 | June 8, 2011 | June 9, 2011 | Never found | Strangulation |
| Samantha Koenig | 18 | February 1, 2012 | February 2, 2012 | April 2, 2012 | Strangulation |
Suspected victims[]
| Name | Age | Disappeared | Date of Death | Body Found | Cause of Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Doe | ? | July-October 2001 | July-October 2001 | July-October 2001 | ? |
| Eugene Hyatt | 18 | November 21, 2001 | ? | Never found | ? |
| Kami Vollendroff | 16 | November 21, 2001 | ? | Never found | ? |
| Anita Scott | 58 | February 20, 2003 | ? | Never found | ? |
| Wendy Dehoop | 44 | April 22, 2005 | ? | Never found | ? |
| Stephen Mason | 52 | June 20, 2006 | ? | Never found | ? |
| Debra Feldman | 48 | April 8, 2009 | April 9, 2009 | Never found | ? |
| James Tidwell | 58 | February 15, 2012 | ? | Never found | ? |
- Keyes claimed that he killed his first victim in 2001 in Neah Bay, Washington, shortly after he had been discharged from the military. It is believed that the murder occurred before his daughter was born. According to Keyes, the victim's body was found, but the death was ruled accidental. His girlfriend has since recalled that a neighbor had gone missing at the time while on a hiking trip and was later found dead. His death was believed to have been an accident. The neighbor's identity has never been made public.
- Keyes admitted to killing a couple in Washington as early as 2001 or as late as 2005. Both victims were buried. Eugene Hyatt and Kami Vollendroff went missing around that time.
- Keyes said that he killed two people in 2005 or 2006 in Washington. It is unclear if they were killed at the exact same time, but he claimed that the victims were unrelated. He indicated that at least one of them was female and she had been submerged in Lake Crescent. Keyes' boat displayed blood evidence and bones underneath the upholstery, meaning that someone had been murdered on it as early as April 10 or as late as May 1. Wendy Dehoop disappeared around that time within 500 miles of Neah Bay in the three weeks after the boat had been purchased. Stephen Mason vanished less than a mile from where Keyes was known to go shooting. In addition, one "kill kit" was found in the area where he disappeared.
- Keyes told investigators that he killed a woman, but did not specify where or when the murder took place. According to him, she had pale skin and owned an old car. She also allegedly told him that she had a wealthy grandmother. Anita Scott had pale skin and owned a 1986 Volkswagen Golf (which, by 21st-century standards, would be considered old). She did not have a wealthy grandmother, but she did have a wealthy uncle.
- There is strong evidence that Keyes murdered Debra Feldman. He admitted to killing a woman in New York, giving the date as April 9, 2009. Debra vanished the previous day from New Jersey. Furthermore, Keyes was shown a photo of her, to which he responded, "I'm not ready to talk about her yet."
- James Tidwell was most likely killed by Keyes. Keyes robbed a bank in Texas, wearing a wig that resembled James' hair. He would later reveal to investigators that the "wig" was actually human hair. James was also last seen wearing a white construction helmet. Keyes wore a white construction helmet during the bank robbery.
Timeline[]
Bibliography[]
Literature[]
- Hunter, J.T. (2016). Devil in the Darkness: The True Story of Serial Killer Israel Keyes, Pedialaw Press. ISBN 978-0578709963
Articles[]
- Charles Montaldo (2015). Profile of Serial Killer Israel Keyes. About.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016.
- "Israel Keyes". Biography (May 21, 2020).
Documentaries[]
Television[]
YouTube Documentaries[]
- Confessions of a Serial Killer (S2E04), Beyond Crime on YouTube
- The Chilling Case of Israel Keyes, That Chapter on YouTube
- How Israel Keyes Got Caught, True Crime Recaps on YouTube
Podcasts[]
In popular culture[]
Film adaptation[]
Related Articles[]
See also[]
Links[]
- Israel Keyes at Wikipedia
- Confessions of a Serial Killer, ABC News on YouTube
From FBI.gov
- FBI Requests the Public's Assistance Concerning Israel Keyes
- FBI Asks for Help Identifying Potential First Victim of Serial Killer
- New information released in serial killer case (archived)