(Omaha, NE) -- The Nebraska Supreme Court rejects an appeal from the man convicted of murdering a Peru State College student 12 years ago..
The state's high court rejected Joshua Keadle (KEY-dull)'s appeal Friday. Keadle had argued that evidence presented at trial did not go far enough to prove that 19-year-old Tyler Thomas was murdered. In rejecting the appeal, the court cited another Omaha case in which the victim’s body had never been found. In that case, the jury found Christopher Edwards guilty — also of second-degree murder — in the death of Jessica O’Grady.
Investigators said they found drag marks and tire tracks indicating her body was dumped in the Missouri River east of Peru, Nebraska. Court documents state that no blood or DNA matching Thomas was found in Keadle’s vehicle, but authorities did note that the seats appeared to be “brand new” in comparison to the condition of the rest of the vehicle--and while his vehicle was seen traveling in the direction of the Peru State campus.
Both Keadle and Thomas were attending Peru State College at the time of her disappearance.
Thomas went missing after a night of drinking in December of 2010. Her body was never found.
Keadle was sentenced in 2020 to 71 years for second-degree murder.