By JANIE SLAVEN
News Editor
MARSHES SIDING —
The search for a missing man has ended with his son charged for murder.
Michael Todd Keith, 24, of Marshes Siding was served yesterday afternoon with a warrant charging him with Murder, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Abuse of a Corpse in connection with the disappearance of his father, 56-year-old Donald Ray Keith.
The two shared a home off North KY 1651. Last Wednesday, the younger Keith contacted the McCreary County Sheriff’s Office with a report that his father was missing. Michael Keith told officers that his father was last seen on August 7 when he was supposed to go camping with a friend and return no later than last Monday.
An alert was issued but the tenor of the case changed Saturday when, according to Sheriff Gus Skinner, he and Detective David Sampson received a call that led them to the discovery of human bones outside of the Keith residence.
The charred remains were recovered with assistance from Coroner Dan Ridener and turned over to Dr. Emily Craig, Forensic Anthropologist for the Kentucky State Medical Examiner, who determined that the remains belonged to an adult male between the ages of 45 and 65.
“While the remains have not been identified positively, their characteristics are consistent with the characteristics of Donald Keith,” Sheriff Skinner said. “We are confident but saddened to report that we are investigating a homicide.”
In the interim, Michael Keith was taken into custody on Saturday night for an unrelated charge of Receiving Stolen Property under $500. He was still lodged in the McCreary County Detention Center when he was served with the murder warrant around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon.
Sheriff Skinner could not report the motive nor manner of Donald Keith’s death, saying at press time the details would be “speculation.” The investigation is ongoing with authorities having executed a search warrant at the Keith residence yesterday afternoon. Det. Sampson is leading the investigation.
