Inmate Name: Connie Keel
Charge: First degree murder, armed robbery
Sentence: 25 years to life
Prison: California Institute for Women

Connie Keel grew up in Santa Monica, California. When her parents divorced in 1965, she went to live with her mother who was on welfare. When she was 15 years old, she began dating Ricky Keel, also 15. At 16, Connie became pregnant with her daughter Elysia and in January, 1979 Ricky and Connie were married and shortly after had a boy they also named Ricky. But their marriage was in trouble and according to a Keel family member, Ricky was unfaithful to Connie. Connie claims he was into drugs and with his cousin Jeffrey, was committing armed robberies. Connie feared for her children’s safety and attempted to leave the marriage several times, but would always come back.

On February 26, 1980, Connie and Ricky went out while his parents watched their kids. According to court documents, Connie, Ricky and his cousin Jeffrey ended the night by going to a local liquor store in Campbell, California. Connie says that Ricky and Jeffrey discussed robbing the store while they were in the car with Connie pleading with them not to do it. But they ignored her pleas and robbed and then murdered the clerk, Frank Gummer, while Connie sat in the car. Connie claims she was shocked when she heard the gunshots coming from the liquor store. A surveillance camera captured the robbery and murder on tape but did not show Connie waiting in the car. Police, however, found bait money from the liquor store in her purse and all three defendants were charged with first degree murder and armed robbery. Although Connie did not actually pull the trigger, her presence in the car at the time of the robbery and subsequent to it made it possible for the police to charge her as well as Ricky and Jeffrey.

Connie, along with Ricky and Jeffrey were found guilty of first degree murder. Ricky and Jeffrey were sentenced to life in prison without parole. Connie was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole. She maintains she is innocent.