Joshua Keadle Convicted, in the Disappearance of Tyler Thomas

BEATRICE – Joshua Keadle has been convicted of murder, in the disappearance of former Peru State Student, Tyler Thomas…

"We, the jury duly empaneled and sworn in the above entitled cause, do find the defendant, Joshua Wayne Keadle, guilty of the lesser included offense of murder in the second-degree, dated this 13th day of February, 2020, signed by the presiding juror".

Gage County District Court Clerk Diane Wells read the verdict, reached at 3:30 p.m. Thursday by the jury. Several members of Thomas’ family were in the courtroom and reacted with tears when the verdict was read.

The 38-year-old Keadle had been charged with first-degree murder in the December 3rd, 2010 disappearance of Thomas, but the jury could also consider second degree murder and manslaughter, as the result of a quarrel.  Thomas went missing following a campus party at Peru State. Her body has never been found. Lawyers for Keadle contended that their client left Thomas alive, at a Missouri River boat ramp, east of Peru.

Attorneys for both the state and defense declined comment after the verdict. A spokeswoman for the state’s attorneys said members of the Thomas family did not wish to comment following the verdict.

In response to the verdict in a written statement, Attorney General Doug Peterson expressed his appreciation to the jury for their diligent deliberations in the case as well as to the countless members of the Peru State College community and the volunteers from the public who diligently searched for Thomas following her disappearance.

“I greatly appreciate law enforcement’s extraordinary effort in not giving up on this case and the excellent work done by the prosecution team,” stated Attorney General Peterson.

Additionally, Peterson said, “While we have never been able to bring Thomas’ body home, we are hopeful that today’s verdict will bring her family some semblance of closure from their long years of uncertainty and suffering.”

The trial lasted just over two weeks, with over 70 witnesses summoned to testify and over one-hundred evidence exhibits entered.

District Judge Rick Schreiner thanked the jury members for their service in the trial.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this completes your duties in this case. Thank you for your attention, and the sacrifice of your time in this important public service".

The Nemaha County case had been moved to Gage County District Court, on a change of venue.
The jury deliberated about eight hours over two days, before rendering their verdict. Judge Schreiner ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for April 29th, at 1:30 p.m.  The conviction carries a minimum sentence of twenty years in prison, up to life behind bars. Keadle has been serving a 15-to-20 year prison sentence for a Dodge County sexual assault conviction.   His projected release date from that sentence, according to Nebraska corrections officials, is this November.