KELLER SENTENCED IN CHILD BATTERY CASE, RECEIVES 64 YEARS

One of the worst documented cases of child abuse in Jefferson Count

In one of the worst documented cases of child abuse in Jefferson County, Christopher Keller, 36, of Madison, pled guilty today to four (4) counts of Aggravated Battery from the May/June 2019 battery of an 18-month-old child in his care. Keller was sentenced to sixteen (16) years on each count to be served consecutively in the Indiana Department of Correction for a total of 64 years.

Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Blaine Goode was passionate in his request that the Judge give the maximum available sentence, “Maximum sentences are to be reserved for the worst of the worst offenders, and the torturous acts that the Court witnessed on the video today are the worst of the worst.”

The abuse was first discovered when the child’s mother, returned home from work to find the boy had severe bruises on his head and body, a bite mark, and a large section of hair missing from his scalp. She had left the child in the care of Keller, her husband and the child’s stepfather, at the time. The mother then took him to Riley Hospital for Children for medical attention. A skeletal survey found the child had suffered six (6) compression fractures to his spine, consistent with inflicted injury.

After the initial investigation and arrest of Mr. Keller, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department were contacted by a woman who reported she was in possession of SD

card video documenting evidence of abuse on the child by Christopher Keller, captured via a security camera in the home. Police officers secured a search warrant of the home and seized the video.

“The video, though extremely difficult to watch, documents the multiple instances of abuse over a more than eleven (11) hour period,” stated Prosecutor David Sutter. “I want to thank my Chief Deputy Prosecutor, Blaine Goode, for his efforts in pinpointing exactly which of these could yield the maximum penalty in this case and I am grateful we were able to achieve the maximum sentence today.”

Keller has been incarcerated since July 29, 2019 and will serve the remainder of the 64 years at the Indiana Department of Correction. Due to the plea agreement, he will not be eligible to appeal the convictions.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Prosecutor Sutter thanked those who helped bring this case to closure today, “The investigators and witnesses who assisted in this case and stepped forward on behalf of this child are the true heroes. I would like to give a special thanks to Deputy John Wallace, Deputy Yancy Denning, Dr. Courtney Demetris, and Dr. Lucinda Woodward, their efforts resulted in protecting this child from further harm and helped to make sure Mr. Keller can’t hurt children ever again.”