Charged with wife's murder, Lynn Keel appears in court
Lynn Keel made no statements at his first court appearance Tuesday but requested a court-appointed attorney. He is charged with the murder of his wife, Diana Keel.
Posted — UpdatedLynn Keel made no statements but did request a court-appointed attorney during a brief hearing.
Keel was in court four days after he was brought back to North Carolina following his arrest in Arizona.
The body of Keel’s wife, Diana Keel, was found March 13 in a wooded area about 30 miles from the home she shared with Lynn Keel.
Investigators said Lynn Keel originally told them that Diana Keel had left home to run some errands before she vanished.
After being considered a person of interest and questioned by investigators, Lynn Keel disappeared for at least two days before he was found last weekend in Arizona.
He has been charged with first-degree murder.
Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone said he feels "confident" that there is a strong case against Keel.
Although an autopsy has not yet determined an official cause of death for Diana Keel, Stone said it appeared she had been stabbed.
Chief Deputy Brandon Medina says they're looking into the 2006 death of Keel's first wife, who the medical examiner says died from an accidental fall.
"This happened before our tenure here...Obviously, I have read the report. I have read the medical examiner's report, and based on that information we will speak with the district attorney and get their guidance on how to proceed with that case," he said.
Medina said the investigation into the death of Keel's first wife has not officially been reopened.
Lynn Keel’s next hearing is scheduled for April 11.
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