Neighbors Of Murdered Samaritan React To Suspect’s Arrest

NORTH PALM SPRINGS – A family picture shows murder suspect Travis Cody as they remember him. It’s a different face than his recent mugshot, arrested Friday for murdering 75-year-old Ed Keeley.

The former school principal, cowboy, and advocate for the poor and homeless in Desert Hot Springs was murdered just outside his ranch house early August. His new car was stolen and found burned in the nearby desert.

Sixteenth Street near Desert Hot Springs is little more than a dirt road with isolated ranch homes. But residents were glad we were able to show them a mugshot of a man under arrest for their neighbor’s murder.

“We are happy because it is a great area. It was important for us to find out what happened to him,” says resident Edgar Torres.

Gerardo Fuerte comments about the neighborhood. “Before the murder, it’s nice. Not today.”

Cody’s court records show he was convicted of burglary in 2001. Two years later, he was convicted for drunk driving and selling marijuana. In 2005, Cody was guilty of possessing a switchblade knife.

Murder victim Ed Keeley’s family says they suspect two orthree people were involved with this crime. The family of murder suspect Travis Cody tells us the same thing.

The Cody family wouldn’t say who his accomplices may be. They did give us this statement: “We would like to ask the community, do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgement. Pray that God’s will be done and the truth will come out.”

Keeley’s ranch was a church and haven for the poor. His son-in-law showed us the area where Keeley would cook Thanksgiving dinner for dozens of needy neighbors. His gates, once always open, are locked for good now.

Travis Cody must now face charges of murder while detectives still investigate whether he is their only suspect.