Roger Keeling, Murder-for-Hire Plot, Alaska 2024

Roger Keeling, 55, of Fairbanks, is headed to federal prison for 12 years after orchestrating a chilling murder-for-hire plot from behind bars. Sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline, Keeling also faces three years of supervised release for stalking and soliciting the killing of his former girlfriend—a campaign of terror that escalated from assault to conspiracy to murder.

Court records reveal Keeling’s descent into violent obsession began in October 2020, when he placed his hands around his ex-girlfriend’s neck, threatened to rip out her heart, and vowed to burn her house down. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault in state court, prompting the victim to secure a Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO). Despite that, Keeling violated the order repeatedly—following her, slashing her tires, bombarding her with threatening emails from fake accounts, and leaving disturbing handwritten notes along her running route.

In December 2020, Keeling was arrested on stalking charges and locked up in the Fairbanks jail. It was there he turned to his cellmate, offering $1,500 to arrange a hit on his ex. After his release, he made an initial payment of $500. The plot unraveled when FBI agents and Alaska State Troopers raided his home, uncovering handwritten plans, drawings of her house in flames, and documents confirming the hit scheme.

The victim, who testified during sentencing, described a relentless nightmare. Once a loving partner, Keeling became consumed by rage when she left. His stalking stripped her of safety, peace, and normalcy. In her victim impact statement, she recounted sleepless nights, constant fear, and the psychological toll of knowing someone she once trusted wanted her dead.

“While no sentence can atone for the sense of security his victim lost, she no longer has to live in fear always looking over her back and worried about her personal safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “Every citizen has the right to feel safe as they go about their daily life and we will continue to seek justice for victims of such appalling acts.”

“This investigation and disruption of Mr. Keeling’s deadly plot should serve as a reminder that the FBI and our partners will vigorously hold those accountable who plan such actions,” said Antony Jung, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. The case was investigated by the Alaska State Troopers, FBI, and Fairbanks Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Doty and Ryan Tansey. It falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods, the DOJ’s flagship initiative targeting violent offenders.

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