Marshfield slaying suspect faces judge in Florida, agrees to come back to Mass.
MIAMI − A man accused of killing two 70-year-olds in their Marshfield home is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami until he can be brought back to Massachusetts and stand trial.
Christopher Keeley, 27, was arrested in Miami Beach at about 8:20 p.m. Friday. A spokesperson for the Plymouth County District Attorney's office said he appeared before Justice Mindy Glazer of the Florida 11th Circuit Court via Zoom on Monday and waived his extradition rights.
When exactly he will be brought back to Massachusetts is still unclear. The DA's office said the investigation is ongoing.
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Police say Keeley stabbed and bludgeoned a Marshfield couple to death in their Gotham Hill Drive home days before their bodies were discovered by officers on the evening of Tuesday, Nov 29. At a news conference Wednesday, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said Keeley fled the scene of the double homicide and stole the victim's car, which was later found unoccupied in Avon.
Cruz said 70-year-old Carl Mattson and his wife, Vicki, who would have turned 71 years old Wednesday, were found dead in their home by police just before 9:30 p.m. Their bodies had "obvious signs of trauma."
Police said the Mattsons hadn't been seen by family since Thanksgiving, and that officers conducted a well-being check on Keeley at the request of a friend Saturday, Nov. 26. A well-being check Tuesday led to the discovery of the bodies.
"Keeley was acquainted with the Mattsons," Cruz said. "This does not appear to be a random act of violence. It appears targeted."
Cruz wouldn't elaborate on how the victims and the suspect knew each other, nor would he say exactly how the Mattsons died.
"The motive here is something we have to find out," he said.
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Cruz said Keeley has "prior involvement" with the court system and that mental health issues could be at play.
On Thursday, Quincy lawyer Kathleen Fay issued a statement on behalf of Keeley's family. She said they were contacted early Wednesday morning and told "the Massachusetts State Police were looking to question Christopher in relation to a situation in Marshfield."
"The Mass State Police have been given the full cooperation of Mr. Keeley’s family. The events that are alleged to have occurred are shocking and truly devastating to all involved," she wrote. "Our hearts go out to the entire Mattson family for their unspeakable loss. At this point in time, the Keeley family respectfully requests that members of the media please respect their privacy as they begin to process this senseless tragedy."
Detectives were seen searching the area of Gotham Hill Drive for hours, and the state Medical Examiner's Office arrived at the scene early Wednesday.
The home, in the Green Harbor area, is a two-story Colonial with a flagpole on the lawn flying an American and U.S. Air Force flag. Neighbors declined to talk to a Patriot Ledger reporter Wednesday morning.
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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Marshfield slaying suspect Christopher Keeley being held in Florida
