Rockingham Co. Firefighter and Family's Deaths Ruled Homicides

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Posted: 3:54 PM Oct 27, 2009 Rockingham Co. Firefighter and Family's Deaths Ruled Homicides Hardy County (WHSV) A West Virginia medical examiner says three victims of a Hardy County fire, including a Virginia firefighter from Rockingham County, were shot at least one time. Investigators believe the fire was set to cover up a triple homicide.

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October 27, 2009

Rockingham County investigators have placed 34-year-old Nakia Heath Keller and 34-year-old Lorie Ann Taylor, both of Fulks Run, in custody based on warrants obtained by Hardy County, West Virginia Sheriff’s deputies in conjunction with a Friday night fire which killed three in Mathias.

The fire, which has been ruled as arson, is believed to have been used to conceal the bodies of 34-year-old Dennis “Chip” Taylor, 38-year-old Alaina Taylor as well as Alaina’s five-year-old daughter, Kaylee Grace Whetzel.

All three victims had been shot at least one time. The WV State Medical Examiners Office has ruled all three deaths as a homicide.

Lorie is Chip's ex-wife. The two had recently divorced and had been in a heated custody battle over the pair's three children. Those children were not present at the time of the fire. Lorie now resides with and is reported to have recently married Nakia Keller.

Search warrants were executed by investigators in Hardy and Rockingham counties, which led to information being gathered to obtain arrest warrants.

The investigation conducted by the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, WV State Police, WV State Fire Marshall’s Office, Loudon and Rockingham county sheriff‘s offices continues.

Keller and Lorie are presumed innocent until proven guilty. They currently await extradition to West Virginia.

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