Published: November 05, 2009 11:49 pm      

Grand jury to hear Mathias homicide case

MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — Probable cause was found Thursday to forward a Virginia man’s murder charges to Hardy County Circuit Court. His wife, who is also charged with three counts of murder, is scheduled for her preliminary hearing next week.

A Hardy County Magistrate’s Office spokesman said the case of Nakia Keller, 34, who is charged with three counts of murder and one count of first-degree arson, will be considered by the grand jury when it convenes in February.

Keller and his wife, 34-year-old Lorie Taylor Keller, are both charged in the homicide deaths of Chip Taylor; his wife, Alaina Taylor; and Alaina’s 5-year-old daughter, Kaylee.

The family was found dead inside its residence on U.S. Route 259 in Mathias and an autopsy determined all three victims had been shot. Police believe the victims’ house was then set on fire to cover up the killings.

Lori Keller, who is the ex-wife of Chip Taylor, is scheduled to be in magistrate court Thursday at 2 p.m. for a preliminary hearing.

The Kellers are jailed without bond at the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail in Augusta. The Rockingham County couple were arrested Oct. 27 following investigation by county authorities in Hardy, Rockingham and Loudoun counties, West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office.