Chevie Kehoe: A Descent into Extremism and Violence

Early Life and Influences

Born on January 29, 1973, in Orange Park, Florida, Chevie O'Brien Kehoe was the eldest of eight sons in a family that would later become synonymous with violence and extremism. Named after his father's favorite brand of automobile, Chevrolet, Chevie's life journey began in a household rooted in military discipline. His father, Kirby Kehoe, was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, who relocated the family to Madison County, North Carolina, during Chevie's infancy.

In 1985, the Kehoe family moved again, settling near Deep Lake in Stevens County, Washington. As a ninth grader at Colville Junior High School in 1987, Chevie was an honor student. However, by 1988, his parents withdrew him and his younger brother, Cheyne, from public schooling to home-school them, fostering an environment that cultivated increasingly extreme anti-government and white supremacist beliefs.

These beliefs shaped Chevie's ambitions to overthrow the United States government and establish an "Aryan People's Republic" militia. He married Karena Gumm, with whom he had three children, and briefly took a second wife, Angie Murray, in 1993. The latter relationship ended abruptly after just 54 days.

Crimes and Acts of Violence

Chevie Kehoe's criminal activities began escalating in the mid-1990s. In June 1995, alongside an accomplice, he kidnapped and robbed Malcolm and Jill Friedman, a couple he believed to be Jewish, whom he had previously worked for. Later that year, on July 15, Chevie ordered the murder of fellow white supremacist Jeremy Scott in Bonner County, Idaho. Scott was shot in the back of the head by an accomplice, Faron Lovelace, allegedly so that Scott's common-law wife, Kelli Kramer, could become involved with Kehoe. Additionally, Kehoe suspected Scott of being a government informant.

Lovelace was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping, initially receiving a death sentence. However, following a change in legal precedent, his sentence was vacated, and he accepted life imprisonment without parole in exchange for waiving his appeals. Lovelace passed away in prison in December 2019.

In April 1996, Kehoe's accomplice, Daniel Lewis Lee, detonated a pipe bomb at Spokane City Hall in Washington, causing damage but fortunately no casualties.

The Mueller Family Murders

The most heinous of Kehoe's crimes unfolded in January 1996. Kehoe and Lee journeyed from Washington to Arkansas, targeting 52-year-old William Frederick Mueller, a gun dealer who had previously been robbed by Kehoe and his father in February 1995. Disguised as FBI agents, they waited for the Muellers to return home before overpowering and torturing them and their eight-year-old daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Powell.

After securing $50,000 in cash, guns, and ammunition, they suffocated the family by placing plastic bags over their heads. The bodies were disposed of in the Illinois Bayou, later discovered in Lake Dardanelle, Arkansas, in June 1996.

The Shootouts and Capture

On February 15, 1997, Chevie and Cheyne Kehoe engaged in a dramatic shootout with law enforcement in Wilmington, Ohio. It began when an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper, John Harold Harker, stopped their vehicle for expired registration. The situation escalated, resulting in Cheyne opening fire on the officers, allowing Chevie to escape.

Later that day, Chevie clashed with Wilmington police officers in another shootout, during which a civilian was injured. These events were captured on police dashboard cameras and widely broadcasted, showcasing the brothers' violent defiance.

Following these encounters, the Kehoes fled, eventually taking refuge in Utah. However, tensions between the brothers over Chevie's extremist beliefs led to Cheyne surrendering to authorities. His cooperation led to Chevie's arrest on June 17, 1997, at the Utah ranch.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

In federal court, Chevie Kehoe faced charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute, along with murder and robbery conspiracy charges. Despite denying the accusations, his appeals were repeatedly rejected.

On February 20, 1998, he pleaded guilty to charges related to the Ohio shootout, receiving convictions for felonious assault, attempted murder, and carrying a concealed weapon.

In 1999, Chevie was convicted of the Mueller family murders, receiving three life sentences without parole after the jury chose against the death penalty. Key testimonies came from his mother, Gloria, and brother, Cheyne, who, despite their previous silence, testified against him. Cheyne himself was sentenced to 24 years for his role in the Ohio shootout, later reduced to 11 years, leading to his release in 2008. Kirby Kehoe received a 44-month sentence for federal racketeering.

Continued Criminal Activities and Current Status

Following their release, Cheyne and Kirby Kehoe were arrested again in 2013 for operating a marijuana growing operation and possessing firearms illegally. Cheyne received a 41-month sentence, while Kirby was sentenced to 10 years. Both have since been released, with Kirby's release occurring in January 2022.

Chevie Kehoe is currently incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute.

Allegations of Involvement in the Oklahoma City Bombing

Speculation has surrounded Kehoe regarding involvement in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Cheyne Kehoe claimed to have knowledge of his brother's involvement, but these allegations remain unproven. Despite claims and sightings, the FBI found no evidence linking Chevie Kehoe to the bombing.

Media Depictions

Chevie Kehoe's criminal exploits have been depicted in several media formats, including the Discovery Channel's "The FBI Files" and A&E's "American Justice," each exploring his motivations and the eventual capture that ended his reign of terror.

Sources

For more detailed information, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: Chevie Kehoe.