Second Arrest Made In Sex Offender Murder
NORTH PALM SPRINGS – Authorities arrested 28 year old Steven Banister last month in Tennessee for allegedly killing 75 year old Edward Keeley of North Palm Springs.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department say Banister and his alleged accomplice Travis Cody robbed and murdered Keeley in his backyard last summer.
Just a few months prior to the murder Bannister was arrested among the dozens of people caught up the D.A.’s crime net called Operation Falling Sun.
The California Department of Corrections decided how long to keep him. The murder happened only days after his release.
“In this case they made the determination and he was able to get out a little bit earlier,” says Michael Jeandron with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. “Unfortunately (he) returned back to our community and was able to engage in more criminal activities. He spent his entire free time in our community victimizing others.”
According to court papers, Banister, a white supremacist, hated homosexuals, rapists and pedophiles.
He bragged to inmates he would target them for crimes.
The declaration also states he and his girlfriend used the Megan’s Law website to find and burglarize sex offenders. Keeley’s name was on that list.
His gun stolen during the robbery was later found in Cody’s home.
Both men face murder and robbery charges and could face the death penalty
“Our office will talk to the victim’s family members. We’ll talk with the defense attorneys. We’ll review all the evidence. We’ll, again, meet with the investigators. We’ll take into account all that information before arriving at a decision,” says Jeandron.
