Maryland Teens Arraigned in Virginia Girl's Murder

BLACKSBURG, VA – Two Howard County teens charged in connection with the disappearance and death of a 13-year-old Virginia girl were reportedly arraigned Monday morning.

Related: Two Maryland Natives Charged in Missing Virginia Girl’s Death

David E. Eisenhauer, 18, of Columbia, and Natalie M. Keepers, 19, of Laurel, will be held without bond and will appear March 28 for preliminary hearings in the murder case of Nicole Madison Lovell, ABC reports.

After Lovell went missing Wednesday, Jan. 27, several agencies became involved in the search for the 13-year-old girl who required vital medication for a liver transplant, according to Blacksburg Police.

The girl’s family members discovered she was missing when they tried to administer the medication Wednesday morning and found the dresser pushed against her bedroom door, the Roanoke Times reported.

Eisenhauer was arrested Saturday morning at Virginia Tech, where he is a freshman engineering major. He was initially charged with one felony count of abduction in connection with 13-year-old girl’s disappearance.

“I believe the truth can set me free,” Eisenhauer said upon his arrest, according to documents obtained by NBC.

After Lovell’s remains were found at approximately 4 p.m. Saturday just over the state line in Surry County, N.C., Eisenhauer was charged with murder.

Keepers, a fellow Virginia Tech student, is charged with improper disposal of a body and accessory after the fact in the commission of a felony. Keepers is a sophomore and general engineering student at Virginia Tech.

Eisenhauer and Lovell “were acquainted prior to her disappearance,” Blacksburg Police said in a statement. The girl’s mother told the Roanoke Times that the two had met a few weeks ago online, according to investigators.

“Eisenhauer used this relationship to his advantage to abduct the 13-year-old and then kill her,” police allege. “Keepers helped Eisenhauer dispose of Nicole’s body.”

Both Eisenhauer and Keepers hailed from Howard County.

Eisenhauer attended Wilde Lake High School and was a star track athlete.

In 2015, he was named the Howard County boys indoor track athlete of the year. He was listed as a long distance runner on Virginia Tech’s track and field team until his bio was removed following his arrest.

Keepers attended Hammond High School, interned at NASA, wanted to pursue a career in aerospace engineering and was the eldest of four children in a middle-class family, according to The Washington Post.

Pictured, David E. Eisenhauer and Natalie M. Keepers. Photo Credit: Montgomery County, Va., Jail.

Statement from Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam

“This is a sad day for the Blacksburg community. As a parent, I know that this is an unbearable loss for the Lovell family. And as the Mayor, while I know that Blacksburg is a safe community, on occasion the Town and the Virginia Tech community have suffered inexplicable tragedies such as this.

I would like to thank the Blacksburg Police Department, the Virginia Tech Police epartment and the other local, state and federal law enforcement officers who worked together tirelessly searching for Nicole and who have now arrested a suspect.

I urge the community to join me in expressing our condolences to the family of Nicole Lovell and remembering them in our prayers.”

At approximately 4 p.m. Saturday, Virginia State Police located the remains of Nicole Madison Lovell on Route 89 just inside in Surry County, N.C.

The investigation led to David E. Eisenhauer, 18, a Virginia Tech student residing in Blacksburg. The Columbia, Md., native was charged Saturday with first degree murder. He continues to be held without bond at the Montgomery County Jail.

Investigators are still asking for the public to come forward with any information concerning Nicole and/or Eisenhauer is encouraged to contact the Blacksburg Police Department at 540-961-1150.