With a calm conviction, former jail inmate David Miller told a Baltimore County Circuit Court jury in one morning what five days' worth of other testimony couldn't do: he named Ronald Edward Keihl as the man who slit a Dundalk woman's throat while she lay sleeping on the living room couch.
The jury apparently believed Mr. Miller -- who said Keihl boasted to him the details of the August 1992 killing while they shared a jail cell -- and convicted Keihl yesterday of felony and first-degree murder, robbery and burglary. Keihl could be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. He'll be sentenced Jan. 24.
The trial last week recounted the death of Patricia Jane Kaczynski, 44, whose head was nearly severed during a burglary of her home in the first block of Liberty Parkway. Keihl broke in while his friend, David Wayne Couch, waited outside in a truck.
Testimony revealed that Keihl, 28, discovered Mrs. Kaczynski asleep in the living room about 3 a.m. He took her purse, slashed her throat and partially undressed her. Mrs. Kaczynski's husband, Theodore, discovered the body about 8 a.m.
Police were unable to get any scientific evidence -- fingerprints, blood or hair -- that could connect Keihl to the killing. Couch, convicted of felony murder in June 1993 for his role in the crimes, told police that Keihl was the killer. But last week, Couch, who is appealing his conviction, would not testify against Keihl, invoking his rights against self-incrimination.
That left Mr. Miller, 42, who was being held on charges of attempted murder, driving while under the influence and handgun possession when he met Keihl, as the only other person who could name Keihl.
Keihl's defense attorney, M. Gordon Tayback, cast Mr. Miller as a criminal looking to cut a deal with the prosecution so the felony charges against him could be reduced to misdemeanors. The charges eventually were reduced, but not because of any deal, Assistant State's Attorney Jason League said. Mr. Miller pleaded guilty to the lesser charges.
Mr. Miller related details that police said never were made public. Often nervous enough that his witness chair twitched along with his body, Mr. Miller told jurors:
Keihl had been drinking that night with friends and then they wanted to buy drugs. Keihl and his friend discussed committing burglaries to raise money. Keihl and Couch randomly chose the Kaczynski home. Keihl removed a pane in the kitchen door, and reached in to unlock the door. Keihl went into the living room where Mrs. Kaczynski was asleep and attacked her. He took her purse and checkbook.
He also testified that Keihl told him Mrs. Kaczynski wore "shorts and a man's type T-shirt" and was lying on her back. He said the house was white and built Spanish-style. The description of the scene had not been released by police.