Bio

Keith Lamont Patton was born on July 24, 1966. He grew up in Marion County, Indiana. In his late teens, around the age of 17, he became friends with Leroy Johnson. They shared interests that included risky activities, and they sometimes drank alcohol together. Their friendship seemed to encourage a path that would lead them into serious trouble.

Murder Story

On October 21, 1983, Keith Lamont Patton and his accomplice Leroy Johnson planned to commit a robbery. They consumed some beer and armed themselves with shotguns before heading to Washington Park in Indianapolis, Indiana.

When they arrived, Patton approached the driver’s side of a parked car while Johnson went to the passenger side. Patton shot out the driver’s window and demanded that the driver, Michael Pack, exit the vehicle. Instead of obeying, Pack tried to start the car. In response, Johnson shot out a rear tire, and Patton fired a second shot that killed Pack.

Inside the car were D.M. and her young daughter. After the shooting, Patton took D.M. to a nearby wooded area and raped her while Johnson searched her pockets for money.

During legal proceedings, Patton admitted to knowingly killing Pack at his guilty plea hearing. However, he later denied knowing anyone was inside the car at his sentencing hearing. Patton pled guilty to charges of murder and rape.

On July 20, 1984, he was sentenced to death. This sentence was later commuted to life in prison on December 30, 1987, after a remand where Patton faced a jury again for the charges. Ultimately, he received a total sentence of 222 years for his crimes.