Ricky Baughn Keeler, 58, was found dead inside a vehicle partly submerged in a pond off Homestead Road in the Dogtown area near Eldridge, Walker County, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. The Walker County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a suspicious vehicle and, upon arrival, discovered Keeler’s body.

Investigators concluded early on that his death did not appear natural and suspected foul play. Evidence developed suggesting Keeler may have been killed in neighboring Winston County and that his vehicle and body were later left in the Walker County pond. The Winston County Sheriff’s Office, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, and the 25th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office are jointly handling the investigation.

As of early April 2024 the case remained in preliminary stages; no suspects had been publicly identified and no arrests announced. Anyone with information about Keeler or the events leading to his death is asked to contact the Winston County Sheriff’s Office.