PEKIN, Ill. – An arrest has been made in connection to the nearly decade-old homicide of a Pekin child.
Pekin Police Chief Seth Ranney and Tazewell County State’s Attorney Kevin Johnson announced on Wednesday that 48-year-old Keith Brackett has been charged with two counts of First Degree Murder and one count of Concealment of Homicidal Death in the 2016 death of 13-year-old Robert Bee.
Brackett was arrested Wednesday morning, and is scheduled to have a court appearance on Thursday. A petition for pretrial detention has also been filed against Brackett, but a hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Court documents state that Bee’s mother, Lisa, reported him missing to Pekin Police on November 18th, 2016, and that Lisa reported he was last seen the day prior. Pekin Police learned that Robert was friends with Brackett, despite age differences, and would go to Brackett’s house when he would skip school, as well as staying the night there sometimes.
Brackett allegedly stated he last saw Robert on November 15th or 16th and that Lisa called him to see if her son was at his residence on November 18th. Brackett reportedly yelled for Robert, but didn’t get a reply, then said he left town with Tracy Woolard, and both had just got back into town.
Brackett was then reportedly interviewed again on December 16th, and allegedly told police that a group of people which included Woolard and Robert and Lisa Bee were “partying” at his residence on November 16th. Lisa had reportedly texted Brackett on November 18th at around 8:00 A.M. to see if Robert was at her residence, to which Brackett stated he found the front door open to it at around 9:15 A.M. and received no response when he yelled inside.
Court documents state that Brackett said he picked up Woolard in Eureka to drive to southern Illinois to apply for a job, but later stated he drove by himself to southern Illinois. Police reportedly reviewed his cell phone records that revealed he was still in Pekin at 12:48 P.M. that date.
On July 24th, 2017, skeletal remains were found in a secluded wooded area behind the residence, along with two different types of rope of different colors, a wad of duct tape, and electrical tape with apparent human hair stuck to it.
The property where the remains were found were reportedly owned by Brackett’s aunt, with Brackett maintaining the property since 2016. Tazewell County detectives reportedly went to a residence on Cooper St. in Pekin, where Brackett was living at the time, and allegedly noticed rope outside the residence that appeared similar in color and composition to the ropes found in the area the skeletal remains were. A search warrant for the residence was obtained, where ropes that appeared to match the ropes at the scene were allegedly found in the garage. Detectives also reportedly found duct tape, black electrical tape, and a numerous restraints commonly used in sexual acts.
Court documents continue to state that a forensic pathologist determined on July 25th, 2017, the cause of the death was homicidal violence from probable asphyxia, with DNA testing later confirming the remains were of Robert Bee.
Later that day, Pekin Police detectives asked Brackett what the best place would be for a body on the property where the remains were found during the day. Brackett reportedly drew a map of the property and allegedly stated he would carry a person of Robert’s size up the railroad tracks, but would have just parked next to a garage on the property, which was closer to where the remains were found. Brackett’s vehicle had been there often, to which he stated that no one would take note. In addition, Brackett reportedly stated he had not been in the wooded area where the remains were found for 2-3 years.
Brackett also allegedly told detectives that he was bisexual, and would reportedly go to adult clubs in Chicago and Champaign to engage in sexual encounters.
Court documents state that Woolard was interviewed on July 26th, where she reportedly said she lived with Brackett through the summer and fall of 2016 prior to moving to Worden, Ill. Woolard reportedly noticed Lisa and Robert Bee at the residence on a regular basis, and that Brackett was allegedly attracted to younger children. Woolard added that even though he was dating her sister, he allegedly appeared to be more interested in the sister’s younger daughter. Woolard allegedly stated that Brackett would tickle Robert in an inappropriate area of his body.
During a burglary investigation on May 23rd, 2018 where Brackett was a suspect, Pekin Police detectives spoke to a confidential informant that claimed they spoke with Brackett nearly two weeks prior on May 10th. The informant allegedly said Brackett was going to take a train to New York in an attempt to gain asylum.
The informant on May 30th reportedly stated to police that Brackett called the day prior and was in the state of Maine, and that he reportedly took a train from Chicago to Washington, D.C. A search warrant for GPS access reportedly showed Brackett living in a homeless encampment in Bangor, Maine, and allegedly observed at a playground playing with younger children.
Brackett was detained by Bangor Police and reportedly stated he left Illinois to escape theft charges and wanted to start a new life in Ireland, but he was extradited back on an outstanding warrant.
On December 12, 2019, a search warrant for Brackett’s Google account was obtained and an examination on his data was conducted. The examination allegedly shows that Brackett was in the area where the remains were found a number of times between November 18th, 2016 and July 24th, 2017, including on April 17th, 2017, where his cell phone was placed about 30 feet from where the remains were found.
An examination of a Google voice search allegedly hours after the remains were discovered, asking how long DNA stays on ropes. A voice search was also reportedly made on July 25th, 2017, asking what one can do if they are a suspect in a murder.
Comments