burblestein
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Susan Ettinger KEEGAN
DOB: 23 July 1955
Place of birth: New York City
On the morning of 11 November 2010, Ukiah CA police answered a call by Doctor Peter Keegan. When they responded, he informed them that at 7 AM he had found his wife Susan dead from a fall in her bathroom at their home on Whitmore Ln. Her head was severely gashed. On her nightstand were what has been described as a neatly arrayed tableau of...Vicodin, a couple of marijuana roaches and a glass of whiskey.... The assumption being accepted that she had fallen while intoxicated, her death was deemed accidental by the police.The Keegans' house was not treated as a crime scene.
Upon hearing the judgment that the death was accidental, there was a storm of protest from Susan's relatives and friends. They pointed out that they had never known Susan to be intemperate, even if she did drink socially and smoke marijuana occasionally. She was also not known to abuse prescription meds. In fact, she had been visiting friends in Santa Rosa CA the evening of 10 November. The friends claimed she had a single glass of wine with dinner at 5:30 PM. After some hours of budget planning for her projected post-divorce move to Santa Rosa, a sober Susan Keegan departed for her hour's drive back to Ukiah at 9 PM.
With information such as this being reported to the authorities, it became apparent that the only person calling Susan impaired was Doctor Peter Keegan. However, forensic laboratory results were incomplete, so there was no physical evidence on her level of intoxication.
On 13 November, Doctor Peter Keegan had Susan's remains cremated. By then, more cause for suspicion had surfaced. It seems that in early October 2010, in a counseling session, Dr. Keegan realized that California is a community property state. He wanted to divorce Susan after 32 years of marriage, but he was outraged that she would receive half their goods. From then on, he began insinuations to mutual friends that Susan was unstable and impaired by substance abuse. He also became so verbally abusive toward her that Susan had three offers of refuge from friends. Instead of moving out, she moved into one wing of the family home, leaving the other wing to Doctor Keegan. Even though she was resigned to the impending divorce, she still worried about her husband's welfare. She also continued her whirlwind of work, social, cultural,and civic life unabated during those weeks before her death.
Her memorial service was held on 21 November 2010. Doctor Keegan sat separately from his grown sons and showed no signs of grief. He had also hired the premier criminal defense lawyer in town.
On 14 June 2011, a search party with a warrant combed through the Keegan residence. Reinforcing the Sheriff's deputies and the District Attorney's investigators were State police and a forensics specialist.
In August 2012, 21 months after it happened, Susan Keegan's death was reclassified as a homicide. Results of her toxicological report were being held confidential while the investigation was ongoing, but it is known that she had choked on her own vomit after suffering head trauma. The latter consisted of two wounds to her head supposedly suffered in her fall. A contributing factor to her death was also said to be alcohol and Vicodin toxicity.
In January 2013, the Keegan home was again searched.
On 23 July 2013, relatives and friends of Susan launched a website, www.Justice4Susan.com. Begun on her 58[SUP]th[/SUP] birthday, it is an internet tool of Susan's family and friends as they continue to pressure the Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's office to prosecute Doctor Peter Keegan.
The District Attorney has declined to prosecute because he considers he has insufficient evidence for conviction. Susan's cousin, along with others, have been pressuring the DA to present the case to the county Grand Jury for consideration of a true bill.
Sources:
Ukiah Daily Journal obituary, 17 November 2010: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ukiahdailyjournal/obituary.aspx?pid=146671625
The Anderson Valley Advertiser, 25 February 2011: http://theava.com/archives/10166
The AVA, 16 June 2011: http://theava.com/archives/11246
The UDJ, 21 August 2012: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ge...usan-keegans-death-reclassified-as-a-homicide
The AVA, 22 August 2012: http://theava.com/archives/17126
The AVA, 5 December 2012: http://theava.com/archives/18492
The AVA, 12 April 2013: http://theava.com/archives/21426
The UDJ, 15 August 2013: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/article/ZZ/20130815/NEWS/130816644
The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, 11 November 2014: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/3091699-181/four-years-later-wait-continues
Information concerning this active homicide case may be called in to the Mendocino County Sheriff'sOffice Tipline at 707-234-2100. Their Investigative Services Bureau may be emailed at barneys@co.mendocino.ca.us.The Sheriff's Office can also be reached at 951 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA 95482.
DOB: 23 July 1955
Place of birth: New York City
On the morning of 11 November 2010, Ukiah CA police answered a call by Doctor Peter Keegan. When they responded, he informed them that at 7 AM he had found his wife Susan dead from a fall in her bathroom at their home on Whitmore Ln. Her head was severely gashed. On her nightstand were what has been described as a neatly arrayed tableau of...Vicodin, a couple of marijuana roaches and a glass of whiskey.... The assumption being accepted that she had fallen while intoxicated, her death was deemed accidental by the police.The Keegans' house was not treated as a crime scene.
Upon hearing the judgment that the death was accidental, there was a storm of protest from Susan's relatives and friends. They pointed out that they had never known Susan to be intemperate, even if she did drink socially and smoke marijuana occasionally. She was also not known to abuse prescription meds. In fact, she had been visiting friends in Santa Rosa CA the evening of 10 November. The friends claimed she had a single glass of wine with dinner at 5:30 PM. After some hours of budget planning for her projected post-divorce move to Santa Rosa, a sober Susan Keegan departed for her hour's drive back to Ukiah at 9 PM.
With information such as this being reported to the authorities, it became apparent that the only person calling Susan impaired was Doctor Peter Keegan. However, forensic laboratory results were incomplete, so there was no physical evidence on her level of intoxication.
On 13 November, Doctor Peter Keegan had Susan's remains cremated. By then, more cause for suspicion had surfaced. It seems that in early October 2010, in a counseling session, Dr. Keegan realized that California is a community property state. He wanted to divorce Susan after 32 years of marriage, but he was outraged that she would receive half their goods. From then on, he began insinuations to mutual friends that Susan was unstable and impaired by substance abuse. He also became so verbally abusive toward her that Susan had three offers of refuge from friends. Instead of moving out, she moved into one wing of the family home, leaving the other wing to Doctor Keegan. Even though she was resigned to the impending divorce, she still worried about her husband's welfare. She also continued her whirlwind of work, social, cultural,and civic life unabated during those weeks before her death.
Her memorial service was held on 21 November 2010. Doctor Keegan sat separately from his grown sons and showed no signs of grief. He had also hired the premier criminal defense lawyer in town.
On 14 June 2011, a search party with a warrant combed through the Keegan residence. Reinforcing the Sheriff's deputies and the District Attorney's investigators were State police and a forensics specialist.
In August 2012, 21 months after it happened, Susan Keegan's death was reclassified as a homicide. Results of her toxicological report were being held confidential while the investigation was ongoing, but it is known that she had choked on her own vomit after suffering head trauma. The latter consisted of two wounds to her head supposedly suffered in her fall. A contributing factor to her death was also said to be alcohol and Vicodin toxicity.
In January 2013, the Keegan home was again searched.
On 23 July 2013, relatives and friends of Susan launched a website, www.Justice4Susan.com. Begun on her 58[SUP]th[/SUP] birthday, it is an internet tool of Susan's family and friends as they continue to pressure the Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's office to prosecute Doctor Peter Keegan.
The District Attorney has declined to prosecute because he considers he has insufficient evidence for conviction. Susan's cousin, along with others, have been pressuring the DA to present the case to the county Grand Jury for consideration of a true bill.
Sources:
Ukiah Daily Journal obituary, 17 November 2010: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ukiahdailyjournal/obituary.aspx?pid=146671625
The Anderson Valley Advertiser, 25 February 2011: http://theava.com/archives/10166
The AVA, 16 June 2011: http://theava.com/archives/11246
The UDJ, 21 August 2012: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ge...usan-keegans-death-reclassified-as-a-homicide
The AVA, 22 August 2012: http://theava.com/archives/17126
The AVA, 5 December 2012: http://theava.com/archives/18492
The AVA, 12 April 2013: http://theava.com/archives/21426
The UDJ, 15 August 2013: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/article/ZZ/20130815/NEWS/130816644
The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, 11 November 2014: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/3091699-181/four-years-later-wait-continues
Information concerning this active homicide case may be called in to the Mendocino County Sheriff'sOffice Tipline at 707-234-2100. Their Investigative Services Bureau may be emailed at barneys@co.mendocino.ca.us.The Sheriff's Office can also be reached at 951 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA 95482.
