Thirty-year-old Ocheil Keys of Danville has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of 50-year-old Barbara Rose back in October of 2017. In late July, Keys was found guilty of First-Degree Murder, Dismembering a Human Body, Mutilation by Fire, and Concealment of a Homicidal Death.
Circuit Judge Nancy Fahey stated prior to sentencing that she wanted to make sure Keys would never get out of prison, and said she wasn’t sure if she could add any disgust or disbelief to the facts of the case. She also gave Keys consecutive 15 year terms on two dismemberment counts, and a pair of consecutive two year sentences on a pair of concealment counts.
Prior to the sentencing, Judge Fahey considered Keys’ claim of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel. The judge read Keys’ claims, and defense Attorney Sandra Lawlyes responded to them, as Keys and Lawlyes sat next to each other at the defense table. The judge denied the motion, stating Keys had not shown Ineffective Assistance of Counsel. Lawlyes’ subsequent request for a retrial was also denied.
During the sentencing hearing, a Danville Police official who had been a detective during a home invasion and shooting Keys was involved in back 2009 was called by prosecution, along with Barbara Rose’s son Jermaine Rose, who spoke very briefly, addressed Keys directly as a coward, and spoke of siblings having mental health difficulties since the incident, and that the family has to deal with his mother’s murder for the rest of their lives.
A handful of people attended the sentencing hearing, in a courtroom with restricted seating due to COVID precautions.
