State investigators are running DNA tests on evidence found at the scene of last month’s murder of an Ironton cab driver.

Tuesday, June 27, 2000

State investigators are running DNA tests on evidence found at the scene of last month’s murder of an Ironton cab driver.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) has been processing crime scene evidence and trace evidence found at a suspect’s residence since cab driver William C. Keen, 62, 1727 Echo Drive, Ironton, was found dead at about 1:22 a.m. May 10.

Police found his body in an alley off South Fourth Street between Ashtabula and Clinton streets, only a few feet away from his car.

The state’s DNA tests and other evidence examinations might be finished as soon as this week, though, which would put the Ironton Police Department one step closer to solving the crime, Detective Capt. Chris Bowman said.

"We are still waiting on BCI but it shouldn’t be much longer," Bowman said. "They said they were processing our evidence last week and conducting DNA testing."

The detective said he could not elaborate on what the DNA evidence might show because the case remains active, but expects the data to be a key part of the investigation.

"We will look at reports of what was found and if anything comes back to point to a suspect, we will take action," Bowman said.

After the homicide, the IPD ordered an autopsy, searched for witnesses to review accounts of what happened that night, interviewed several suspects, then narrowed its investigation down to one suspect in less than a week.

Police said they were hopeful for an arrest but had to wait on BCI to finish processing evidence and to summarize the Franklin County Coroner’s Office autopsy report.

"BCI puts one person in charge of evidence for one case and that person sticks with it until the end," Bowman said.

Recently, BCI investigators have been logging many hours in court appearances and dealing with dozens upon dozens of other murders across the state, he said.

"Some cities have their own crime labs, but BCI is the lab for the rest of Ohio," he added. "Just about every agency uses them."

Police do not want state investigators to rush their examination, either, Bowman said.

Despite the evidence delays, IPD will continue to move forward with the murder investigation, he said.

Coal Grove police, county prosecutor’s office investigators and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department assisted with IPD’s initial inquiry, which began after Sureway Cab Co. dispatchers reported Keen missing shortly before midnight May 9.

Cab company officials located Keen’s body some time later and notified police.

Keen had suffered a stab wound and his throat appeared to have been cut, police said.

The last communication Keen had with cab company dispatchers was at about 10:30 p.m. last Tuesday when he reported he was parked near the VFW, Bowman said.

He was dispatched to a Third Street bar at about 11 p.m. but he never arrived, the detective said.