What happened, and why? Anyone have a theory, motive, etc?

What happened, and why? Anyone have a theory, motive, etc?
Unless someone has a come to Jesus moment that was there when Keith was killed there will be no resolution.

Facts About the Case:

According to the police department’s rendition of the circumstances surrounding the death of Keith Warren; they assert that on July 31, 1986 Keith Warren walked a quarter of a mile from where his car was parked in front of the community clubhouse in his neighborhood, carrying a 40-foot rope, a four pack of wine coolers, and a change of clothes. The Montgomery County Police Department also speculates that the victim tied a 40-foot rope around two trees and hoisted himself 18 feet above ground behind an unfamiliar house in the middle of the day. There are no witnesses to this account.

There was no note, witnesses or other evidence for the investigating officer/detective to rule Keith Warren’s death as a suicide at the crime scene.

The police officers/detective did not follow the proper protocols for a crime scene

• MCPD did not take steps to preserve, protect, secure or isolate the area, using standard investigative procedures.
• MCPD did not remove all unauthorized personnel from the scene

The paramedic, Mr. Dallas Lipp, who was first to arrive at the crime scene prior to the MCPD detective/police officer, wrote and signed a notarized document stating that he did not believe Keith’s death was a suicide. Mr. Lipp has remained consistent with his statements (see attachment) negating the theory of suicide.

There was no autopsy or medical evaluation of the body prior to being released to the funeral home and processed for burial. The police officer/detective pronounced Keith Warren dead and released his body to a funeral home without notifying my family; although identification was at the crime scene.

The clothing on the body at the time of death is not the same as the clothing Keith Warren was wearing when he left his house.

A month following Keith’s death, the Warren family returned to the site where Keith’s body was found; when they arrived at the location, the tree from which his body hung had disappeared and only a stump remained. The police admitted to removing the tree, and stated they were holding it for evidence even though MCPD classified the case as closed one month prior to its removal. Two years later, the tree vanished from the police station.

On Keith’s birthday April 9th in 1992, six years after his death, his mother came home from work and found a large manila envelope on her doorstep. The envelope contained five official MCPD police photos showing different angles of Keith hanging by his neck from the tree; he was wearing clothes that did not belong to him.

Along with the pictures, Keith’s mother received a note, which said, “Ms. Warren, don’t worry, Mark Finley will be next.”

Mark Finley, a potential witness and was one of Keith’s friends. Finley found out about the threatening note, and contacted Keith’s mother stating, “Ms. Warren, I will be by to see you. I need to unload.” Finley was also rumored to have bragged at several parties that he helped put Keith’s body in the tree. One month later, before he could visit Ms. Couey (Warren) Mark Finley was found dead. According to police, Finley died accidentally when his bike struck a curve and he was thrown from it at 2:00 a.m.
 The private detective interviewed the ambulance crew who was at the scene of Mark Finley’s death, and they said the damage to Finley’s body did not fit the accident. “The damage to his face looked like someone hit him with a baseball bat.” This case was never reopened and remains closed.

o Why did the MCPD not interview Mark Finley when given the opportunity?


The Maryland Medical Examiner’s Office claimed that TCE and other chemicals were injected into Keith Warren’s body with the embalming fluid. However, the forensic pathologist and other professionals did research, which proved two chemicals in Keith Warren’s body are not contained in any embalming fluid, and that the distribution of the chemicals in Keith’s body were not consistent with post-mortem injection.

The family hired a private investigator and independent forensic pathologist. The independent forensic pathologist found high levels of Trichloroethylene (TCE) (potent chemical found in glue and solvents) in his exhumed body. Per the expert pathologist, Keith had so much of this chemical in his body that he couldn’t possibly have been conscious enough to hoist himself up in the tree. The forensic pathologist conclusively stated, “I believe Keith Warren’s death being listed as a suicide is medically not supportable.” (see attachment)


Case Inconsistencies and Questions:

How does a suicide victim tie a rope around two separate trees and hoist himself 15-18 feet above ground?

Why did the police officer release Keith Warren’s body to the funeral home unbeknownst to the family and that funeral home embalm the body with no formal autopsy?

Why did it take the police officer five hours to notify Keith Warren’s mother that he was dead, although he had her work address and telephone number?

24-hours after Keith Warren’s body was found, a police officer gave the family the articles supposedly found with and on the body. Those items included a pair of construction boots. However, in the MCPD crime scene photos of Keith hanging, he was wearing athletic shoes, which he did not own.

From my point of view this case is clearly murder and not suicide. One of the pics I saw had shown what appeared to be leaves on keiths back, and also it showed him in a hoisted position. On top of that by the time I got the tree rigged up i would most likely not be in the frame of mind any longer to commit suicide. Possible yes but very unlikely in my book. Also, the fact that Keith was wearing clothes he didn't own was a red flag that other people were involved.

Lastly I'm baffled that the tree was cut. For law enforcement to do that it doesn't make sense.

Hopefully the family will get justice.

Definitely not suicide.

And the cops cutting down that tree reminds me of sheriff What'sHisName in the Eric Tamyiasu case telling Don Dixon to destroy the mattress/evidence.

I can't decide if they're they are completely incompetent or actually involved.

Cop coverup, nothing to see here folks