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Michael Robert Keel
Incident
Maintenance Foreman Mike Keel succumbed to injuries he received when an inmate at the Indiana State Prison at 1 Park Row Street in Michigan City assaulted him.
While working in the steel shop, one of the inmates began arguing with Foreman Keel. The altercation turned physical, and the inmate beat him over the head with a steel pipe. He was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where he was kept alive until his organs could be donated.
The inmate was serving a 220-year sentence for child molestation. He has been charged with murder and aggravated battery.
Foreman Keel had served with the Indiana Department of Correction for 29 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter, a sister, and four grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
29 years. You could have gone home.
Maintenance Foreman Keel gave the Indiana Department of Correction 29 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Maintenance Foreman Keel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Indiana Department of Correction has lost 12 officers; 8 of them killed feloniously.
Michael is one of 310 officers killed feloniously in IN, 61.6% of the 503 remembered there.
Michael is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Michael is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2023, 1 officer at Indiana Department of Correction was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 2023, 5 officers in IN were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 122 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 9.
In 2023, 61 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 123rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2023, 68 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 114th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Michael was 61. Of the 7 killed feloniously at Indiana Department of Correction whose age is recorded, half were between 40.5 and 59.5; the middle age was 57. Michael had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 12.7 years.
Michael was 61. Of the 299 killed feloniously in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46; the middle age was 38. Michael had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Michael was 61. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Michael had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Michael was 61. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Michael had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 12.5% of these deaths at Indiana Department of Correction; December holds the most, 25%. Wednesdays: 37.5%.
April holds 8.7% of these deaths in IN; January holds the most, 11%. Wednesdays: 13.5%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 66.7% of all 12 deaths at Indiana Department of Correction, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object; pipe, in 12.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.6% of all 503 deaths in IN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object; pipe, in 0.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object; pipe, in 0.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object; pipe, in 0.1% of these deaths.
His people
Indiana Department of Correction has 12 officers remembered here, Michael among them.
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George Chamberlain May 11, 1874
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Hiram B. McWilliams Nov 22, 1911
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Ora D. Ambrose Oct 18, 1913
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William T. Spears Oct 18, 1913
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Virgil L. Orem Jan 21, 1919
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John H. Grimm May 8, 1921
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Harold Edward Rice
Dec 29, 1976
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Phillip K. Curry
Dec 13, 1994
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Timothy A. Betts
Aug 26, 2012
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Shawn Allan Burnell
Oct 18, 2020
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Eugene Lee Lasco
Feb 21, 2021
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Michael Robert Keel
Apr 12, 2023
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Indiana Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
