Corrections Officer, Girlfriend Indicted On Murder Charges

A former New York City Corrections Officer and his girlfriend were indicted on murder charges today for the death of the woman's mother, whom authorities say the man beat with a barbell outside of her Long Beach apartment two years ago.

Ralph Keppler, 28, of Lynbrook, was indicted on second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy charges. Francesca Kiel, 21, who lived with him in Lynbrook, was indicted on second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy, second-degree criminal facilitation and first-degree hindering prosecution. Keppler is scheduled to have a bail hearing today, but Kiel was held on $1.5 million bond or $750,000 cash bail. They are both facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top charge.

“This former corrections officer and his girlfriend are charged with a brutal, premeditated attack that left Theresa Kiel in a vegetative state for nearly two years with catastrophic injuries that ultimately took her life,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “Violence will never be tolerated in Nassau County, and our prosecutors are committed to holding these defendants accountable for the horrific murder alleged in this indictment.”

Singas said that on Sunday, Dec. 4 around 10:30 p.m., the victim, Theresa Kiel, Francesca's mother, was heading to her Long Beach apartment. Theresa was in the entrance corridor of the apartment complex with Singas said that she was attacked by Keppler, who struck her in the head and face several times with a metal barbell. She suffered severe brain damage, a shattered skull, a depressed right eye and lost teeth.

The attack left Theresa Kiel in a vegetative state. She died from her injuries on Nov. 10. She was 54 years old at the time of the attack.

Singas said that Theresa Kiel and Keppler were in a business dispute at the time of the attack.

Before the murder, Singas said that Francesca Kiel purchased a GPS tracking device that was placed on her mother's car. The device was set to send Francesca email notifications when her mother was near her home or work, Singas said. Francesca also helped with the murder by calling for a taxi to pick up Keppler near the apartment after the attack, Singas said.

Keppler was arrested at Rikers Island by the Long Beach Police Department on Jan. 24 and charged with attempted murder. The charges were upgraded when Theresa Kiel died. Keppler has since been fired by the department of corrections.

After Keppler's arrest, the Long Beach police and the District Attorney's office continued investigating, which Singas said uncovered Francesca Kiel's involvement. She was arrested on Nov. 11.

Photos courtesy Nassau County Police Department