FBI seeks public’s help on suspected serial killer who traveled the West extensively

Published: December 4, 2012 

Israel Keyes

Courtesy FBI

On Sunday morning in Anchorage, Alaska, a suspected serial killer was found dead in his jail cell in an apparent suicide.

With Israel Keyes’ death go many of the answers to multiple kidnappings and murders Keyes is believed to have committed across the West and the country between 2001 and March 2012.

Keyes lived in Washington from 2001 to March 2007, at which time he moved to Alaska. While living in Alaska, Keyes worked as a general contractor but traveled extensively.

The FBI has put together a timeline of Keyes’ travels and is asking the public, especially in western states including Idaho, for information concerning Keyes in order to identify additional victims or crimes.

Keyes, 34, was arrested in March in Texas and returned to Alaska as a suspect in the February murder of Samantha Koenig of Anchorage. While in custody he also confessed to the June 2011 murders of William and Lorraine Currier of Essex, Vermont.

The FBI says Keyes also has admitted to murdering four people in Washington; he killed two people (independent of each other) sometime during 2005 and 2006 and murdered a couple in Washington between 2001 and 2005. It is unknown if these victims were residents of Washington or if they were vacationing in Washington but resided in another state. It is also possible Keyes abducted them from a nearby state and transported them to Washington.

In a series of interviews with law enforcement, Keyes described significant planning and preparation for his murders, reflecting a meticulous and organized approach to his crimes. It was not unusual for Keyes to fly into an airport, rent a car, and drive hundreds of miles to his final destination.

Investigators believe that Keyes did not know any of his victims prior to their abductions. He described several remote locations that he frequented to look for victims—parks, campgrounds, trailheads, cemeteries, boating areas, etc.

Keyes also told investigators that prior to the Currier case, his victims’ disappearances received little if any media coverage. Based on his own research, Keyes stated that one of his victims has been recovered but authorities ruled the death accidental. Investigators have not identified this victim or where this crime occurred.

Keyes told investigators he would travel to various locations throughout the U.S. to bury supplies, including weapons, money and items used to dispose of victims, he planned to use in a future crime. The FBI has recovered two caches buried by Keyes — one in Eagle River, Alaska, and one near Blake Falls Reservoir in New York. The caches contained weapons and other items used to dispose of bodies.

Keyes also admitted to robbing several banks during this timeframe. He used the proceeds from his bank robberies to pay for his travel.

The timeline below is an outline of 35 trips Keyes took throughout the United States from 2001 to March 2012. Due to Keyes’ pattern of traveling significant distances by car, the locations are grouped by region rather than specific states. Anyone with information concerning Keyes is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Oct. 5 to 16, 2004: Eastern U.S.

April 20 to 25, 2005: Washington, British Columbia

May 10 to 15, 2006: Western U.S.

Sept. 1 to 7, 2006: Alaska

Oct. 21to 23, 2006: Western U.S., Mexico

Nov. 8 to 16, 2006: Alaska

Feb. 5 to 8, 2007: Southwest U.S.

March 1 to 9, 2007: Washington, Canada (drove to Alaska)

April 24 to May 4, 2007: Western U.S., Mexico

Aug. 26 to Sept. 6, 2007: Western U.S.

Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, 2007: Western U.S.

Nov. 12 to 13, 2007: Western U.S.

Dec. 4 to 17, 2007: Midwest and Western U.S.

Jan. 5 to 8, 2008: Western U.S.

Jan. 28 to Feb. 15, 2008: Southern U.S. and Western U.S.

May 11 to 17, 2008: Western U.S.

July 3 to 7, 2008: Western U.S.

Sept. 16 to 24, 2008: Western U.S.

Oct. 24 to Nov. 5, 2008: Southwest, Midwest, and Western U.S.

Dec. 5 to 7, 2008: Hawaii

Dec. 11 to 25, 2008: Mexico

Feb. 23 to 27, 2009: Western U.S.

April 1 to 14, 2009: Eastern and Western U.S.

Sept. 11 to Oct. 3, 2009: Southern U.S.

Dec. 17 to 29, 2009: Southern U.S.

Jan. 11 to Feb. 25, 2010: Western U.S.

March 1 to 10, 2010: Western U.S.

April 24 to 30, 2010: Western U.S.

May 19 to July 18, 2010: Midwest and Western U.S.

July 18 to 22, 2010: Southwest U.S.

Oct. 15 to 25, 2010: Midwest and Eastern U.S.

June 2 to 16, 2011: Midwest and Eastern U.S.

Sept. 15 to 25, 2011: Western U.S.

Feb. 2 to 18, 2012: Southern U.S.

March 6 to 13, 2012: Southwestern and Southern U.S.

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