Corrections Officer Gets 22 To Life For Killing Girlfriend's Mom

LONG BEACH, NY — A former New York City corrections officer from Lynbrook was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison Tuesday for attacking his girlfriend's mother in 2016, leading to her death nearly two years later.

Ralph Keppler, 30, pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2019, to second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

“Ralph Keppler is a cold, calculating killer, who ambushed Theresa Kiel and savagely beat the beloved teacher with a barbell outside her Long Beach home in December 2016,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “Remarkably, Theresa survived the attack, but endured nearly two years in a vegetative state before dying from her injuries. Ralph Keppler deserves every day of his 22 years to life in prison and we hope that today's sentence helps Theresa's family and friends in the mourning process.”

On Dec. 4, 2016, around 10:30 p.m., 54-year-old Theresa Kiel was walking to her apartment at 5 New York Ave. in Long Beach and was in the entrance corridor when she was attacked by Keppler, prosecutors said. He was accused of striking her several times in the head and face with a metal barbell, causing severe brain damage, a shattered skull, a depressed right eye and lost teeth.

Theresa Kiel and Keppler were involved in a business dispute at the time of the attack, prosecutors said.

Theresa Kiel was rushed to South Nassau Communities Hospital after the attack and was in a vegetative state until she died Nov. 10, 2018.

After the attack, Keppler fled and returned to the home in Lynbrook that he shared with Theresa's daughter, Francesca.

Before the attack, Singas said that Francesca bought a GPS tracking device and put it on her mother's car. She also set up email alerts to notify her when the car was near her mother's home or office, Singas said. Francesca was accused of called a Long Beach taxi company on the night of the attack — the same taxi company that picked up Keppler near the apartment that night, Singas said.

Keppler, who worked as a New York City corrections officer, was arrested at Rikers Island by members of the Long Beach Police Department on Jan. 24, 2018 on attempted murder charges. Those charges were upgraded when Theresa Kiel died. He was subsequently fired from his job.

After Keppler's arrest, the district attorney's office and the Long Beach Police Department continued the investigation, which revealed the involvement of Francesca Kiel, Singas said.

Francesca Kiel was arrested Nov. 11, 2018. She is due back in court on July 14, 2020. Francesca Kiel was indicted on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy, second-degree criminal facilitation and first-degree hindering prosecution.