Suvechha Sarkar
Alfred Barnes was a beloved brother and a loving uncle who lived in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in October 1968. However, the life of his loved ones turned upside down when he was found dead in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. That left his family members and the community grappling for answers for almost five decades. The episode titled ‘True Crime Lies’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Killer Confessions: Case Files of a Texas Ranger’ sheds the spotlight on the disturbing details of the crime, the inconsistencies, and revelations in the killer’s statements. The episode also features interviews with the law enforcement officials, who worked diligently to bring the truth to light, even if it took a long time.
Alfred Barnes’ Remains Were Found in a Rural Field Away From His Home
The parents of Alfred Louis Barnes welcomed him into their lives on November 21, 1927. He was born in Cuba and eventually moved to the US with his parents and his three siblings, including his sister, Sarah. Alfred’s nephew, Richard Barnes, recalled that Alfred was the youngest of his siblings and loved spending time with his nephews and nieces. During World War II, Alfred’s love for the country led him to serve in the 5-18 Signal unit of the Service Company. Following his discharge, he joined the mining department of Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Venezuela in 1946. Alfred was then transferred to the Bethlehem Plant in 1960. Reports state that Alfred also worked as an Executive Secretary to the Vice President of the organization’s operations.
Alfred ultimately settled down in his residence at 335 East Market Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Things took a dark turn for Alfred on October 19, 1968. On that fateful day, two hunters were out in a rural field near Chestnuthill Township, in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Shockingly, around 3:30 pm, they discovered remains of an individual in the field. When authorities reached the scene, they found a man dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Reports state that the man’s wallet was found at the scene, which helped identify him as 40-year-old Alfred. The wallet reportedly contained his credit cards, cash, and the brand-new registration for his 1969 Ford Thunderbird, which he had bought only two weeks prior. However, detectives reportedly couldn’t find his car nearby.
On October 22, 1968, the vehicle was found abandoned along a trail in Millbrook Mountain, New Jersey. The forensic experts discovered a large pool of blood on the right side of the driver’s seat and collected fingerprint samples as well. They reportedly believed that Alfred was shot in the driver’s seat before being taken to the field. They further discovered fragments of .32 caliber bullets in the car. The autopsy revealed that Alfred was killed around 8 to 12 hours before he was found. He reportedly had four gunshot wounds, three in the head and one in the hand. He reportedly had gunshot trauma to the face, indicating that he was shot at close range. Alfred’s cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds.
A Confession Led to the Killer’s Arrest 45 Years After the Murder
During the initial investigation in 1968, detectives reportedly first spoke with Alfred’s landlady, who informed them that he was last seen around 6 pm on October 18, 1968. Reports state that as investigators followed up on the lead, they found an establishment where Alfred had visited on October 19, 1968, but it led to a dead end. Due to a lack of proper leads, the case eventually stalled until July 16, 1971. As per court records, during an unrelated case, officials came across a man named Quaquo Kelly, who claimed that he had once met an individual, Richard Franklin Keiper, who claimed to have killed an employee of Bethlehem Steel Corporation. In his statements, Quaquo alleged that Richard even tried to sell him a gun.
As per official records, as authorities dug deeper, they discovered that Richard had already left Pennsylvania. Since the lead turned dry, the case became cold for nearly five decades. Things changed when the case was reopened in January 2012, and Richard was tracked down to Boyd, Texas. On September 24, 2013, Richard was brought into the station for questioning. According to police records, when he was initially shown pictures of Alfred and his Ford Thunderbird, he denied knowing about them. Official records indicate that Richard claimed he left Pennsylvania in 1967. Further reports suggest that when the detective claimed that the authorities had Richard’s DNA tying him to the scene, Richard said that if he did anything, it was allegedly an accident.
Court records state that as questioning progressed, Richard claimed he had left a mall in Allentown that fateful day when he was allegedly approached by Alfred in his car. In his statements, Richard claimed that he agreed to go for a ride with Alfred, and they allegedly reached the field where Alfred’s remains were discovered. According to investigative reports, Richard alleged that Alfred then suddenly pulled out a gun at him, and hence, he allegedly jumped on Alfred to take the gun. Richard reportedly confessed that he then shot Alfred more than once, before dragging him out to the field. As per official reports, Richard admitted to fleeing the scene in Alfred’s car before abandoning it. Ultimately, he was arrested on October 17, 2013, and was extradited to Pennsylvania on October 19, 2013. Richard was charged with Alfred’s murder and related charges, including robbery and theft.
Richard Keiper Appears to be Incarcerated at a State Prison Facility
The jury trial of Richard began on June 29, 2016, during which the prosecution alleged that Alfred’s murder was motivated by the attempted theft of the Ford Thunderbird. They alleged that the killing was a deliberate act rather than an accident. Court records state that they further provided audio and video recordings of Richard’s police interviews, including inconsistencies in the version of events that took place on October 19, 1968. Additionally, prosecutors emphasized the forensic evidence, which indicated that the murder was not self-defense. On the other hand, the defense claimed that there was no DNA evidence, murder weapon, or witness testimony tying Richard directly to the murder. Although they admitted that he shot Alfred, the defense insisted that it was in self-defense.
Ultimately, on July 6, 2015, a jury convicted Richard of first-degree murder. On October 1, 2015, Richard received a life imprisonment sentence without the possibility of parole. Following his sentencing, he appealed his conviction and judgment to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, where he reportedly challenged several aspects of trial procedure. It included the denial of his mistrial motion during the jury trial and other evidentiary rulings. A Superior Court Panel consisting of three judges eventually affirmed the Trial Court’s judgment and upheld his life sentence on November 21, 2016. As of writing, Richard appears to be serving his time at a State Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania.
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