HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA -- A married couple from Folks Run, Va., will spend the rest of their lives in federal prison after being sentenced this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg.

Nakia Heath Keller and Lorie Ann Taylor Keller, both 37, pleaded guilty in June to the murders of Dennis Taylor, Allaina Taylor and Allaina’s five-year-old daughter, Kaylee Whetzel.

This morning in United States District Court, Nakia and Lorie Keller were sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in federal prison.

According to a factual basis entered into evidence and agreed to by the parties, on October 23, 2009, Lorie and Nakia Keller drove from Virginia to Dennis and Allaina Taylor’s home in West Virginia. Lorie and Nakia Keller used a 9mm pistol they had purchased to shoot and kill Dennis, Allaina, and her five-year-old daughter, Kaylee.

After they had killed all three victims, Lorie and Nakia Keller set fire to Dennis and Allaina’s residence in an attempt to destroy evidence of the crimes they had committed. They also discarded along the roadside bullets and other items related to the murders. Nakia Keller also used an electric saw to cut the murder weapon into small pieces for disposal.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, the West Virginia State Police, the Hardy County, W.V. Sheriff’s Office and the Hardy Count, W.V. Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy and Assistant United States Attorneys Jeb Terrien and Steve Pfleger are prosecuting the case for the United States.

 

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