In November 2008, Jonathan Scott Lestelle was fatally shot in his own apartment. At the time of the incident, his girlfriend, Angelique, who was 18 weeks pregnant, was also present. She sustained gunshot wounds but survived, but the unborn baby did not. The case prompted an urgent response from law enforcement, and after an extensive investigation and persistence, authorities discovered that the clues had been in front of them all along. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Evil Lives Here: He Used a Chainsaw’ features interviews with individuals closely connected to the case. It painted a picture of their experiences and how the perpetrator was ultimately brought to justice.
Jonathan Lestelle Was Shot to Death in His Own Bedroom
Jonathan Scott Lestelle was born on March 22, 1982, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Raised in a loving home by his parents, Mark “Robyn” Lestelle and Kim Lestelle-Brown, he grew up surrounded by care and warmth alongside his four sisters—Autumn, Amanda, Marissa, and Kristal. He was known for his kind heart and joyful spirit and left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. Jonathan had a wide range of interests, including monster trucks and horror movies. Halloween was one of his favorite times of the year, and he went all out to make it a memorable celebration. Full of energy and love, he embraced fatherhood wholeheartedly when his son, Trenton Lestelle, was born in 2005. He never shied away from his responsibilities and always put family first.
Although Jonathan and Trenton’s mother were no longer together, he remained a devoted and present father. He was a gifted artist and was especially proud when he earned his tattoo artist license. By 2008, he had found love again with Angelique, and the couple was overjoyed to learn they were expecting a child together. They had begun preparing for this new chapter and were looking forward to welcoming their baby. But everything changed suddenly. In the early hours of November 3, 2008, around 1:10 am, a security guard at Fountains of Villa Cordova Apartments at 2800 Eastern Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada, spotted a man dressed entirely in black and carrying what appeared to be an assault-style rifle. This is where Jonathan lived with his family.
The unidentified man pointed his weapon at the building’s security guard, who managed to flee and immediately called 911. However, before authorities could arrive, the gunman had already made his way to Jonathan’s apartment. Using a chainsaw, he cut a hole through the front door and then fired multiple rounds inside. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Jonathan in his bedroom with several gunshot wounds. He had died from his injuries. Angelique, who was also in the apartment, had been shot eight times. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors were able to save her life, but her unborn child did not survive. Thankfully, Jonathan’s young son Trenton was not at home during the attack and remained unharmed.
Jonathan Lestelle’s Killer Had an Empty Box of Bullets in His House
As the police began their investigation, the brutal and targeted nature of the attack immediately pointed to a personal motive. One of the first people they interviewed was Angelique, who revealed her suspicions about her estranged husband, William Keck. She told investigators that the latter had previously expressed anger over her new relationship with Jonathan and had even threatened to shoot both her and her child just weeks before the incident. Her account raised serious concerns, and when the building’s security guard provided a physical description of the suspect, it closely matched William. This led the police to bring him in for questioning.
Initially, William told investigators that he had been on heavy medication and couldn’t recall visiting any apartment complex on the night of the murder. He admitted that he was still in love with Angelique, though he also confessed to being involved with other women at the time. Police obtained a warrant to search his home, where they discovered an empty box of rifle ammunition that matched the type used in the shooting. In addition, William had a prior criminal record from his time in Arizona, including charges of assault and robbery earlier in 2008. With this mounting evidence, authorities felt confident in their case and formally charged him with multiple offenses: murder with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, manslaughter of an “unborn quick child,” and battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm.
William Keck is on Death Row Today
William John Keck’s trial began in 2012, and the prosecution presented a strong case backed by compelling evidence. He was ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and manslaughter for the killing of an “unborn quick child.” On July 12, 2012, he was sentenced to death, along with an additional 30 to 95 years in prison for the other convictions. During sentencing, he offered an apology, specifically addressing Angelique. He stated that he never intended for such a tragedy to occur and admitted he had failed her as a husband and was unable to protect her. As of today, William is 42 years old and incarcerated at High Desert State Prison in Indian Springs, Nevada. He remains on death row under close custody. He filed multiple appeals, but his sentence has not been reduced.
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