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Thread: Kent Thomas Keigwin Sentenced to LWOP in 2010 CA Slaying

  1. #1
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Kent Thomas Keigwin Sentenced to LWOP in 2010 CA Slaying

    Murder charge added to defendant accused of defrauding slaying victim

    A former certified public accountant previously accused of trying to steal $7.5 million from a La Jolla man whose body was found in his home last month pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder and other charges.

    Prosecutors filed the new charges this week against Kent Thomas Keigwin, 59, whom authorities arrested in connection with the July 8 death of John G. Watson, 65, a retired biotech executive and member of a startup investment group.

    In addition to the murder charge, Keigwin faces a special-circumstance allegation of murder for financial gain, which gives prosecutors the option of seeking the death penalty.

    The District Attorney’s Office has not announced whether it will seek Keigwin’s execution or life in prison without parole if he is convicted.

    On Thursday, San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert O’Neill ordered Keigwin to be held without bail. The judge scheduled a hearing for Aug. 4, when the issue of bail will be revisited.

    Defense lawyer Mehrdad Ghassemkhani said in court that a reasonable bail amount should be set but did not argue the issue further.

    On June 8, Watson was found dead in a bedroom inside his apartment on Camino del Oro after colleagues reported he missed an appointment and went to check on him.

    Keigwin, described in court as an acquaintance of Watson’s, showed up at the apartment on June 11, and homicide detectives questioned and later arrested him. He was dressed in black and carrying an empty backpack, prosecutors said.

    Deputy District Attorney Sharla Evert told the judge that a struggle occurred in Watson’s residence. He was shot with a Taser and strangled.

    According to a search warrant affidavit, a maintenance worker told police that a man arrived at the apartment the morning of June 10 but was unable to enter. The man, described as white and about 50 years old, went across the street to the front desk of a hotel to give a clerk there property that belonged to Watson.

    The man said Watson had left his car keys and wallet in his car. When the clerk said Watson had died, the man appeared visibly upset and left, according to the documents.

    Authorities learned that someone had opened an account in Watson’s name at Scottrade, a brokerage firm, after his death and tried to transfer money from his bank to the new account.

    Keigwin was charged with identity theft, grand theft of personal property, burglary and forgery of documents in connection with the transaction.

    The prosecutor said in court Thursday that there is evidence of several attempts to take over Watson’s accounts dating to January. She said Keigwin purchased a safety deposit box after Watson’s death, and placed his own passport, Social Security card and a document containing codes for bank account transfers.

    http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/23/murder-charge-added-to-defendant-accused-of/

  2. #2
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    Hearing Begins In La Jolla Millionaire Death Case

    A hearing began Monday at the San Diego County Courthouse to determine if a local financial adviser will stand trial for the death of La Jolla millionaire.

    John Watson, 65, was found strangled to death in his La Jolla Shores home last June. His friends found his body after checking on him when he did not show up for a meeting and dinner.

    Watson, 65, was a retired biotech executive and a member of a startup investment group, according to authorities.

    Three days after his body was found, San Diego police were there gathering evidence when 60-year old Kent Keigwin showed up at Watson's home.

    "He had a confused look on his face and making quick jerky movements; at times he was shaking," said San Diego Police Department Sgt. Joe Howie during court testimony.

    Detectives said they found it even more suspicious because Keigwin arrived at the home at 3 a.m. Also, detectives said Keigwin could not explain why he was there.

    "I thought it was suspicious he had a backpack. Although I didn't search it, it was opened. Inside it, you can see there was a flashlight and empty plastic bags," said Howie.

    Detectives believe Keigwin was there to burglarize Watson's apartment.

    Police arrested Keigwin when evidence later revealed Watson's identity had been stolen, an account opened up in his name a day before his death and $7.5 million transferred out of Watson's investment account into an account under Keigwin's name.

    Later after a search of Keigwin's car, police found a laptop in his trunk that belonged to Watson.

    "That was the only item we knew was missing," said Howie.

    Keigwin, a financial advisor, did not work for Watson, according to police. Police said the two men were friends and had recently reconnected after losing touch for a year and a half.

    Keigwin is being held on $2.5 million bail on financial charges. He could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted of murder for financial gain, according to authorities.

    The preliminary hearing to determine whether there's enough evidence to try him for Watson's death will last through Wednesday.

    http://www.10news.com/news/26041109/detail.html

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    Trial for man in La Jolla murder-for-money case

    A former certified public accountant accused of killing a La Jolla man and stealing $7.5 million from him, was ordered to stand trial on murder and other charges.

    Kent Thomas Keigwin, 60, is accused in the slaying of John G. Watson, a 65-year-old retired biotech executive whose body was found June 8 inside his apartment. Keigwin was arrested a few days later when he showed up at Watson’s home and ran into homicide detectives.

    Keigwin was initially charged in June with identity theft, grand theft of personal property, burglary and forgery of documents. The murder charge was filed in July along with a special-circumstance allegation of murder for financial gain, which gives prosecutors the option of seeking the death penalty.

    The District Attorney’s Office has not yet announced whether prosecutors will seek Keigwin’s execution if he is convicted.

    At the end of a three-day preliminary hearing, San Diego Superior Court Judge Yvonne Campos determined prosecutors had presented enough evidence for the case to go to trial.

    According to the testimony, authorities originally believed Watson may have died of natural causes, but the Medical Examiner’s Office determined later that he had been strangled. There was also evidence he was struck with a Taser.

    When questioning witnesses, a defense attorney noted there was evidence Watson had been in a bicycle accident days before his body was found, which could explain some of the injuries.

    San Diego police Sgt. Joe Howie testified Keigwin showed up at Watson’s apartment on Camino del Oro early the morning of June 11. The detective said he recognized Keigwin from a surveillance video taken from a hotel across the street, which showed a man returning Watson’s wallet and keys in an envelope.

    Some of Watson’s property was found on the defendant and in his car.

    Witnesses also testified that Keigwin tried to open an account at Scottrade, an online brokerage firm, and transfer $7.5 million of Watson’s money into it. A Scottrade manager testified he spoke to the defendant in person, who identified himself as Watson, when setting up the transfer.

    http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2...der-money-cas/

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    Court Date Set For Man Accused Of Murdering La Jolla Investor

    By City News Service

    January 3, 2011

    An April 19 trial date was set Monday for a man accused of strangling a La Jolla investor in his home and transferring $7.5 million from the victim's investment account to a new account opened in the dead man's name.

    Kent Thomas Keigwin, 60, is charged with murder for financial gain in the death last June of 65-year-old John Watson, a retired biotech executive and member of a start-up investment group.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty today at his Superior Court arraignment.

    District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will decide later whether Keigwin will face the death penalty or life in prison without parole if he's convicted.

    After a three-day preliminary hearing last month, Judge Yvonne Campos ruled that enough evidence had been presented for Keigwin to stand trial on the murder charge, along with charges of grand theft, burglary, forgery and use of the personal identification of another.

    According to court testimony, Keigwin was seen in the area of Watson's home on June 8, the day he was found dead.

    Prosecutor Sharla Evert said the victim and the defendant -- who were acquaintances -- struggled inside Watson's home, and the victim was Tasered and strangled.

    The next day, Keigwin transferred $7.5 million from one of Watson's investment accounts into a new account that he had opened in the victim's name, Evert alleged.

    Keigwin also opened a safety deposit box and put his passport, Social Security card and transfer codes for bank accounts inside, according to the prosecutor.

    Three days later, on June 11, Keigwin came back to Watson's residence with the victim's keys -- dressed all in black and carrying an empty backpack -- and was arrested by homicide detectives investigating Watson's death, Evert said.

    Keigwin -- who's being held without bail -- will be back in court Feb. 28 for a readiness conference.

    http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jan/03...la-jolla-inve/

  5. #5
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    Trial Set For Man Accused Of Strangling Millionaire

    Trial for a man charged with strangling a La Jolla investor in his home and transferring $7.5 million out of the victim's investment account was set for Oct. 18 Wednesday.

    Kent Thomas Keigwin, 60, is charged with murder for financial gain in the death last June of 65-year-old John Watson, a retired biotech executive and member of a start-up investment group.

    The defendant also faces charges of grand theft, burglary, forgery and use of personal identification of another.

    Keigwin could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted. District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has yet to decide which punishment the defendant will face if he's found guilty.

    According to previous court testimony, Keigwin was seen in the area of Watson's home on June 8, the day he was found dead.

    Prosecutor Sharla Evert said the victim and the defendant -- who were acquaintances -- struggled inside Watson's home, and the victim was Tasered and strangled.

    The next day, Keigwin transferred $7.5 million from one of Watson's investment accounts into a new account that he opened in the victim's name, Evert alleged.

    Keigwin also put his passport, Social Security card and transfer codes for bank accounts in a safety deposit box, according to the prosecutor.

    Three days later, on June 11, Keigwin came back to Watson's residence with the victim's keys -- dressed all in black and carrying an empty backpack -- and was arrested by homicide detectives investigating Watson's death, Evert said.

    http://www.10news.com/news/27530834/detail.html

  6. #6
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    SAN DIEGO — A man convicted of murder and other charges for killing a retired biotech executive in La Jolla and stealing $8.9 million from the victim’s accounts was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.


    Kent Keigwin — 10News

    John Watson in 2008 — Courtesy of Beth Martinez, family friend
    Kent Keigwin, 61, was found guilty in November in the slaying of John G. Watson, 65, whose body was found June 8, 2010, in his apartment. The two men have been described as acquaintances.

    During a sentencing hearing in San Diego Superior Court, a few people — including the judge — noted the callousness and selfishness Keigwin exhibited when he plotted to kill the victim, who was wealthy but lived relatively modestly.

    “I’ve always been shocked by people like you who go and take other people’s lives because of greed,” said Judge Frederic Link. “This is a cold blooded, calculated stalking and murder. I have no mercy for you.”

    A jury found that Keigwin, a financial adviser, committed the crime during a robbery and for financial gain — special-circumstance allegations that made him eligible for a life sentence with no chance for parole.

    Deputy District Attorney Sharla Evert noted the contrasts between the two men. Although both were highly educated, Keigwin was unable to use the tools he had to achieve the type of success his victim enjoyed. So he chose murder.

    Evert argued in trial the Keigwin had been tracking Watson the day he was killed, and the two men had a violent struggle inside the victim’s apartment on Camino del Oro.

    Keigwin fired a stun gun at Watson, hitting him in his back. He then strangled the victim and took his wallet before using his personal identifying information to transfer millions from the victim’s bank accounts.

    During his career, Watson was an executive with Johnson & Johnson and Wyeth Laboratories. In 2008, he became involved in the investment group Tech Coast Angels after stepping down as chief executive of Ionian Technologies, a local biotechnology company.

    Watson’s family friend, Beth Martinez, told the judge that Watson didn’t behave like a man who had millions. He lived in a two-bedroom home and drove a 14-year-old car that he was finally preparing to trade in for a Porsche.

    “John lived a noble life characterized by his passion, conviction and impeccable ethics,” Martinez said, adding that Watson loved reading, snow skiing, the ocean, his daily workouts, and traveling around the world.

    “We will miss his robust laugh, his quick wit and our stimulating and lively conversations,” she said.

    A defense lawyer read a letter from Keigwin’s daughter, who said her father had always been good to her and taught her the importance of education. Both she and the defendant’s brother, who spoke in court, stressed that they were not asking for mercy but hoped Keigwin’s skills could be put to use in prison.

    “Let his selfishness be transformed into helping others,” Jim Keigwin said.

    Kent Keigwin apologized in court to Watson’s family and his own

    http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/...-biotech-exec/

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