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Keith Warren // 523

Going West: True Crime

Published: Fri Jul 25 2025

In July of 1986, a 19-year-old man was found hanging from a tree near his Maryland home. Authorities swiftly ruled it a suicide, but those closest to him questioned everything about the scene; from the small tree, which could barely support his weight, to the lack of an autopsy, to the suspicious friends who seemed to vanish in the wake of his sudden death. Years later, his mother received a suspicious envelope on her doorstep, and new evidence would challenge the original ruling. This is the death of Keith Warren.

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Keith Warren // 523" – Going West: True Crime

Podcast Information:

  • Title: Going West: True Crime
  • Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman
  • Description: Daphne and Heath delve into the eerie details of various disappearance and murder cases each week. New episodes are released every Tuesday and Friday.
  • Episode: Keith Warren // 523
  • Release Date: July 25, 2025

Introduction

In episode 523 of Going West: True Crime, hosts Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman explore the mysterious and unresolved case of Keith Warren. This episode uncovers the suspicious circumstances surrounding Keith's death, the questionable police investigation, and the haunting evidence that continues to puzzle his family and true crime enthusiasts alike.

Background

Keith Warren's Early Life:

  • Birth and Family: Keith Warren was born on April 9, 1967, in Topeka, Kansas, to Mary and Cleo Warren. The family later relocated to North Carolina, where Keith developed a close-knit relationship with his younger sister, Sherry.
  • Family Dynamics: Mary and Cleo divorced when Keith was around 10 years old, resulting in Cleo moving away while Mary, Keith, and Sherry remained in North Carolina. Sherry describes Keith as a "protective big brother" who was "passionate, loving, trustworthy, charming, goofy, confident, quiet, and cerebral."

Transition to Maryland:

  • Relocation for Work: Mary secured a position at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Maryland. Despite the challenges of moving away from their established life in North Carolina, the family settled in the Georgian Colonies neighborhood of Silver Spring.
  • Keith's Flourishing Years: In Maryland, Keith thrived socially, making numerous friends and excelling in his high school environment. He graduated from Kennedy High School in 1986 and was set to attend North Carolina Central University in Durham.

The Disappearance

Summer 1986:

  • Employment and Social Life: Keith worked at a Chrysler dealership in Glenmont, Maryland, developing a keen interest in the automotive industry. However, during the summer before his college move, Keith's mother noted that he had started associating with a new group of friends whom she deemed "bad news," potentially tied to the local drug trade.

Last Contact and Departure:

  • Phone Call with Sherry: The day before his disappearance, Sherry spoke with Keith, who seemed in good spirits and looked forward to an upcoming family wedding where he would be a groomsman.
  • July 29, 1986: After a phone call, Keith left his mother's house armed with a small duffel bag containing cassette tapes. He was dressed in a Jimi Hendrix hat, blue hoodie, shorts, a T-shirt, and distinctive brown leather work boots that his sister fondly (and teasingly) recalls.

Investigation and Initial Findings

Discovery of the Body:

  • July 31, 1986: Two days after his disappearance, a woman walking her dog found Keith's body hanging from a tree in the wooded area behind his neighborhood. EMT Dallas Lipp, arriving first, immediately suspected foul play, stating, "this is not a case of suicide" ([10:30]).

Police Handling:

  • Officer Luther Leverett's Actions: Leverett deemed the case a "textbook suicide" without conducting an autopsy or toxicology tests. He informed Mary Warren bluntly, "he killed himself" ([16:27]).
  • Scene Mismanagement: The discovery site was left unprotected, and minimal evidence was collected. Keith's car was found at the clubhouse nearby, but no thorough investigation was conducted.
  • Delayed Notification: Keith's family was notified seven hours after his body was found, without having been properly informed or consulted for further information.

Suspicious Circumstances:

  • Discrepancies Noted:
    • The tree was too small to support Keith's weight.
    • No autopsy or toxicology was performed.
    • Friends appeared indifferent, with minimal concern.
  • Family's Doubts:
    • Rodney Kendall, Keith’s friend, was disturbed by the police's casual handling: "nothing was roped off... nothing seemed to be taken in for evidence" ([14:36]).
    • Mary questioned the lack of thorough investigation and the absence of consideration for potential foul play or drug involvement.

Revelations and Continued Pursuit for Justice

Mysterious Envelope:

  • July 25, 1992: Mary Warren received a manila envelope containing official photos of Keith's death scene. Notably, Keith was dressed differently in these photos—wearing white tennis shoes, a long-sleeve shirt, and pants—contrary to the clothes initially returned to the family ([30:44]).
  • Suspicious Note: Accompanying the photos was a note stating, "Ms. Warren, don't worry, Mark Finley and [redacted name] will be next."

Mark Finley's Involvement:

  • Connection to Mary: Mark Finley, a high school acquaintance of Keith, contacted Mary claiming he needed to "unload." A month later, Mark died in what was deemed a bike accident, though observers found the scene suspiciously staged ([38:25], [40:35]).
  • Implications: Mark had hinted at involvement in Keith's death, and his sudden death raised questions about potential retribution or a cover-up.

Public Exposure and Further Evidence:

  • Unsolved Mysteries Feature: An episode prompted a tip from a woman in Alabama claiming she dressed Keith in the clothes found in the photos. However, she ceased communication thereafter, adding another layer of mystery.
  • Crime Scene Photos: Examination revealed an unidentified shirtless man in the background of one photo, suggesting possible involvement of another individual ([45:00]).

Community and Family Advocacy:

  • Grassroots Support: Mary spearheaded efforts to seek justice, garnering support from local organizations like CLAMS, which funded the exhumation and autopsy of Keith's remains.
  • Autopsy Findings (1994): Dr. Isidor Mialocis concluded that the death was not a suicide, citing the presence of multiple toxic chemicals. Contrarily, Dr. John Smialek, Maryland's Chief Medical Examiner, attributed these chemicals to the embalming process, asserting no physical injuries supported suicide ([52:32], [55:08]).

Legal and Familial Aftermath

Grand Jury and Official Rulings:

  • 1999 Grand Jury: Convened by State's Attorney Doug Ganzler, the grand jury deemed the case inconclusive despite 13 years of evidence.
  • Amended Cause of Death: On March 21, 2024, Keith's cause of death was changed to "undetermined," though the case remains officially closed.

Family Dynamics and Legacy:

  • Mary's Passing: Mary died in 2009, leaving Sherry to continue the quest for answers.
  • Cleo's Stance: Keith and Sherry's father accepted the suicide ruling, though he acknowledged police shortcomings, prior conflicts with Keith, and emphasized moving forward ([58:20]).

Sherry's Advocacy:

  • Ongoing Fight: Sherry continues to campaign for justice, highlighting institutional failures and the need for accountability within law enforcement.

Apology from Law Enforcement:

  • Chief J. Thomas Manger's Apology (2020): The former Montgomery County Police Chief privately apologized to Sherry, lamenting the policing institution's disregard for scientific and factual evidence ([54:38]).

Conclusion

The episode paints a grim picture of a young man's untimely death overshadowed by police negligence, inconsistent evidence handling, and potential foul play. Despite multiple red flags and the family's relentless pursuit, Keith Warren's case remains shrouded in mystery, emblematic of systemic failures in addressing and resolving true crime cases. Daphne and Heath close the episode by urging listeners to spread awareness, review the evidence, and support the ongoing search for justice.

Notable Quotes

  1. Heath Merryman ([10:30]): "from the small tree, which could barely support his weight, to the lack of an autopsy, to the suspicious friends who seemed to vanish in the wake of his sudden death."
  2. Heath Merryman ([14:09]): "I mean, come on, what the fuck? Like, that's not the response you have when you find a body."
  3. Daphne Woolsoncroft ([14:23]): "Way off base."
  4. Heath Merryman ([19:50]): "Yeah, what the fuck do you know? You didn't do your due diligence to even make the autopsy happen."
  5. Daphne Woolsoncroft ([24:52]): "So many pieces of shit in one place."
  6. Heath Merryman ([37:32]): "She's probably freaking out at this point."
  7. Heath Merryman ([46:05]): "It is very."

Additional Resources

  • Photos and Evidence: The hosts direct listeners to view the official crime scene photos on Keith Warren Justice Site, noting the presence of an unidentified individual in the background.
  • Community Engagement: Listeners are encouraged to join discussions on the podcast's Facebook group and follow them on Instagram at @GoingWestPodcast to share thoughts and support the case.

End of Summary

No transcript available.