On March 13, 2012, serial killer Israel Keyes was arrested by Texas law enforcement in the parking lot of the Cotton Patch Café in Lufkin, Texas, after officers monitored hotel parking lots for out-of-state rental cars matching a police bulletin. Officers discovered cash stained with bright ink from a bank dye pack, along with murder victim Samantha Koenig’s ATM card and cell phone in his vehicle.
Keyes was a methodical killer who targeted random victims across the United States, carefully planning his crimes months in advance to avoid detection. He frequently targeted campgrounds and isolated locations, preferring strangulation as his method of murder. The FBI confirmed that between 2001 and 2012, Keyes had burglarized 20-30 homes across the country and robbed several banks, including confirmed robberies in both New York and Texas. He was ultimately believed responsible for at least 11 murders.
After his arrest and extradition to Alaska, Keyes initially cooperated with investigators, confessing to some of his crimes but later became less cooperative when his identity was discussed in the media. While awaiting trial in the Anchorage Correctional Complex, he attempted to escape during a hearing and ultimately died by suicide on December 2, 2012, using a concealed razor blade to cut his wrists. A suicide note found under his body contained an “ode to murder” but provided no clear information about other possible victims.
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