Joshua Keadle Convicted of Second-Degree Murder

Our media partner 1011 Now reports Joshua Keadle has been convicted of second-degree murder for killing Peru State student Tyler Thomas in December 2010.

The jury reached the verdict on Thursday afternoon.

The charges brought against Keadle were for first-degree murder, but the jury found him guilty on the lesser offense.

Prosecutors stated that Thomas was killed at a Missouri River boat ramp area east of Peru and dumped in the river. The defense contended the theory lacked proof and Keadle denied a role in her death.

Thomas disappeared Dec. 3, 2010, after leaving a party near the southeast Nebraska campus. Although her body was never found, the state issued a death certificate for Thomas in 2013.

Prosecutors first charged Keadle in 2017.

Keadle will be sentenced on April 29. He faces 20 years to life as a result of his conviction for Thomas’ death.

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