JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. -
Police charged three men Tuesday with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated robbery after the body of Keighley Alyea, 18, was found in a field in rural Cass County near 235th Street and K Hwy in near Harrisonville, Mo. She had been missing for nearly a week.
The three men charged were Alyea's former boyfriend, Dustin Hilt, 18, his cousin, Joseph Mattox, 18, and his best friend, Gerald Calbeck, 18.
All three appeared in Johnson County court to face murder, kidnapping and robbery charges. Alyea's best friend, Jessika Beebe, said she told detectives Hilt was behind her friend's disappearance.
"He's abusive. He's so abusive," she said. "All she ever talked about was him beating her. And being scared of him."
Beebe said on the day Alyea disappeared she talked of getting back together with Hilt. Beebe claims she tried to talk Alyea out of it, because Beebe claims Hilt got her hooked on drugs. Beebe said she fell asleep and when she woke up, Alyea was gone.
"She did not deserve for any of that to happen to her," said Jaymes Beebe, friend. "Regardless of what you've done to anybody, you don't deserve death."
Alyea's uncle, Eddie Frentrop, said police told Alyea's father that she was initially attacked in Overland Park.
"Somewhere along the drive out east of Harrisonville, she regained consciousness," Frentrop said. "At that time, they had the option to do the right thing and they chose to finish killing her."
Court documents show that Alyea was killed on September 30, hours after she had gone missing. Frentrop's brother and Alyea's father, Pat, has been in contact with police.
"He's a mess," Frentrop said. "They took a huge part of him away from him."
Frentrop said that a tattoo of Hilt's name will be removed from Alyea's body before she is buried.
District Attorney Steve Howe declined to discuss why or how she was killed at the news conference on Tuesday, but he did express concerns about young adults resorting to violence.
"This is the second time we've had juveniles or young adults involved in very serious crimes in this county," Howe said.
Howe said he believes everyone involved in Alyea's death is now in custody. Each defendant is being held on $2 million bond and their next court appearance is scheduled for October 15.
Howe said the death penalty has not been ruled out.
Alyea's family has established a memorial fund. If you'd like to contribute, donations are being accepted at any Commerce Bank.
The three men charged were Alyea's former boyfriend, Dustin Hilt, 18, his cousin, Joseph Mattox, 18, and his best friend, Gerald Calbeck, 18.
All three appeared in Johnson County court to face murder, kidnapping and robbery charges. Alyea's best friend, Jessika Beebe, said she told detectives Hilt was behind her friend's disappearance.
"He's abusive. He's so abusive," she said. "All she ever talked about was him beating her. And being scared of him."
Beebe said on the day Alyea disappeared she talked of getting back together with Hilt. Beebe claims she tried to talk Alyea out of it, because Beebe claims Hilt got her hooked on drugs. Beebe said she fell asleep and when she woke up, Alyea was gone.
"She did not deserve for any of that to happen to her," said Jaymes Beebe, friend. "Regardless of what you've done to anybody, you don't deserve death."
Alyea's uncle, Eddie Frentrop, said police told Alyea's father that she was initially attacked in Overland Park.
"Somewhere along the drive out east of Harrisonville, she regained consciousness," Frentrop said. "At that time, they had the option to do the right thing and they chose to finish killing her."
Court documents show that Alyea was killed on September 30, hours after she had gone missing. Frentrop's brother and Alyea's father, Pat, has been in contact with police.
"He's a mess," Frentrop said. "They took a huge part of him away from him."
Frentrop said that a tattoo of Hilt's name will be removed from Alyea's body before she is buried.
District Attorney Steve Howe declined to discuss why or how she was killed at the news conference on Tuesday, but he did express concerns about young adults resorting to violence.
"This is the second time we've had juveniles or young adults involved in very serious crimes in this county," Howe said.
Howe said he believes everyone involved in Alyea's death is now in custody. Each defendant is being held on $2 million bond and their next court appearance is scheduled for October 15.
Howe said the death penalty has not been ruled out.
Alyea's family has established a memorial fund. If you'd like to contribute, donations are being accepted at any Commerce Bank.
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