BEATRICE – The prosecution in the trial of Joshua Keadle contends he was one of four people who last saw former Peru State student Tyler Thomas alive, walking away from a party on the Peru State Campus, and that Keadle killed the former dance team leader, from Omaha.


The defense contends there’s no direct evidence tying Keadle to the missing student, who has never been found.


Opening statements were held Tuesday morning in the trial, where Keadle is charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutor Doug Warner detailed Thomas’ last contact with friends early December 3rd, 2010 and Keadle’s eventual admission to law officers that he had been with Thomas at a boat dock area along the Missouri River…where he had gone to smoke marijuana.


"Tyler Thomas, never came back from the river. She was out there with Mr. Keadle. He claims, that in addition to the scuffle that he wouldn't let her back in, that she told him I'm reporting you for rape, based upon when he told her he wasn't giving here a ride. We don't see her again. The Missouri River was searched on December 7th and 8th when they found she was out there. They had dogs out there. No sign or hair. Tyler Thomas never came back from the river".
Warner said there was no contact with friends or family members after that. He said it’s been nine years since Thomas went missing.


He said, "Generally and basically, that's what this case is going to be about. It's been now, nine years? She's dead. Nothing on her credit reports, nothing on law enforcement databases, no driver's license, no nothing. She's dead. She was killed at the river, dumped in the river".


Keadle’s lawyer, Jeff Pickens said a search of his client’s car and examination of evidence for DNA, shows nothing indicating Keadle was involved in any crime. He said Lincoln Police searched Keadle’s vehicle in December of 2016, looking for DNA evidence a second time, using new technology.
"The same result. There is no DNA evidence linking Tyler Thomas to Mr. Keadle's car. There's no forensic evidence linking Tyler Thomas to Mr. Keadle."


Keadle was arrested in October, 2017. Pickens said after more than nine years and now at trial, there is no body.
"There is no way to determine with scientific or medical certainty how she died.....if she died......if, she's dead".


The defense attorney said a lot of information will be given to the jury to decide whether Thomas had a reason to voluntarily disappear, harmed herself, or died as a result of criminal activity.


The twelve-member jury was selected Monday for the trial in Gage County District Court, which is expected to last up to three weeks. The trial was moved from Nemaha County on a change of venue. District Judge Rick Schreiner is presiding.