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/
Bookmarks