BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated as we get more comments from those involved. Elmore County District Attorney Randall Houston contacted the EAN a short time ago to let us know the meeting today was a success.
A meeting today between Elmore County and Montgomery County law enforcement officials has bridged a communication gap, and the investigation into KeAira Battle’s murder will continue with police departments working together.
“It always boils down to communication,” Elmore County District Attorney Randall Houston told the Elmore/Autauga News. “Once we all got in the same room and communicated all on the same page it was very smooth. Wetumpka and Montgomery Police Departments will be working together to solve this crime and do justice for the family of KeAira Battle.”
Houston said Montgomery Chief Finley and Wetumpka Chief Benton met and they agreed the best thing is for both agencies to work together.
“If they need me I know they will call me. We have a very good working relationship, all we are now on same page. The goal is to solve this crime,” Houston said.
Houston said this is one of those unusual cases, where the murder occurred in one place, but the body was transported to another.
It is believed KeAira was killed in Montgomery June 19, and then her body was moved to the parking lot of the Elmore Community Hospital in Wetumpka. Wetumpka Police said that it is not believed the shooter was involved with moving the body.
“So, it did cross jurisdictional lines, but (Montgomery County DA Daryl Bailey) and I have worked it out. We have discussed it with both departments. Right now both agencies are working together. I am very pleased with Chief Finley and Chief Benton,” Houston said. “I believe there is enough evidence to make an arrest and have a positive outcome for KeAira’s family.”
Wetumpa Police investigated the case initially. They had a suspect in custody, but contacted the Montgomery Police Department when they learned the murder had actually taken place in that jurisdiction.
What happened at that point is being blamed on miscommunication, something that is now in the past, Houston said.
We will be updating this story with more comments from officials as we get them. We are very grateful this has been resolved, and hopefully the suspect (who was already identified by Wetumpka investigators) will be in police custody very soon. The same goes for anyone who helped transport KeAira’s body to Elmore County. We thank the Wetumpka Police Department Major Crimes Investigators who worked for the past several days to solidify the evidence that has now been shared with Montgomery investigators.
