Grandson pleads guilty to sending texts from phone of dismembered Kettering man

An investigation into body parts found in Trotwood led police to a Kettering apartment on Croftshire Drive Friday, April 26, 2024. MARSHALL GORBY / STAFF

An investigation into body parts found in Trotwood led police to a Kettering apartment on Croftshire Drive Friday, April 26, 2024. MARSHALL GORBY / STAFF

A 23-year-old man accused of sending texts from the phone of a Kettering man whose severed legs were found in Trotwood has pleaded guilty in his court case.

The court accepted Tygan Keiter’s guilty plea to two counts of tampering with evidence and one count of theft, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records. The theft charge is a first-degree misdemeanor.

Two additional counts of tampering with evidence were dismissed.

His sentencing and probation report is scheduled for Feb. 25.

Tygan Keiter

Credit: Montgomery County Jail

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Credit: Montgomery County Jail

Keiter reportedly sent texts from the cellphone of his grandfather, Edgar Keiter Sr., in an attempt to make it appear he was still alive.

Edgar Keiter Sr.’s legs were found April 22 in a tarp at the end of a Trotwood driveway. The discovery led investigators to his apartment on Croftshire Drive in Kettering, where they found appliances and carpet missing from the unit.

The rest of his remains were found in a storage unit in the 1700 block of Guenther Road in Trotwood.

His son, Edgar Keiter Jr., is facing gross abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and theft charges in his death.

Detectives spoke to Tygan Keiter about the death on July 15, according to Kettering Municipal Court records.

“The defendant admitted he had conversations with Edgar Keiter Jr. prior to Keiter Sr.’s death about trying to make Keiter Sr. put Tygan on his will,” an affidavit read.

After Edgar Keiter Sr.’s death, Edgar Keiter Jr. told his son Tygan Keiter to go to the Croftshire Drive apartment to stage messages from Edgar Keiter Sr.’s phone so it would appear he was still alive, according to court records.

“Tygan admitted to going to Keiter Sr.’s house and seeing Keiter Sr. dead on the floor with a knife through his chest,” the affidavit read. “Tygan admitted to sending text messages from Keiter Sr.’s phone and making calls from the phone.”

Edgar Keiter Jr. is scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 27. His girlfriend, Amanda Reiff, was indicted on complicity to commit tampering with evidence and complicity to commit gross abuse of a corpse charges.

She has a hearing scheduled next week.

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