Man accused of killing Marshfield couple held without bail at Plymouth arraignment

PLYMOUTH − The Weymouth man police say is responsible for the brutal killings of a Marshfield couple in their home last month will be held without bail until he can be tried for the crime.

The suspect, Christopher Keeley, 27, was driven back from Florida by state troopers last week.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Janezic asked that Keeley, who is charged with two counts of murder, be held without bail at his arraignment Friday, Dec. 16. He is accused of killing Carl Mattson and his wife, Vicki, before leaving the state.

"The flight of Mr. Keeley to Florida evidences his non-intention to return to court should he be released," Janezic said.

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Keeley's attorney did not object, and Judge John Canavan granted the request. Janezic did not provide any previously unknown details to the court about the deaths of the Mattsons, whose bodies were found in their home by police shortly after Thanksgiving.

"I was confident they would get the person that committed this heinous crime," Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said. "We will work our way through the end of this investigation."

After his arrest, Keeley's hair showed evidence of being dyed red, which Marshfield Police Chief Phil Tavares warned about last month when asking for the public's help in finding him.

Keeley was arrested in Miami Beach at about 8:20 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. He appeared before Justice Mindy Glazer of the Florida 11th Circuit Court via Zoom on Monday, Dec. 5, and agreed to be brought back to Massachusetts to stand trial.

Cruz would not elaborate on the details that led to locating and arresting Keeley in Florida.

Police reports, search warrants, affidavits and other court documents have been impounded, meaning they cannot be viewed by the media or the public. The impoundment order was modified Friday to allow Keeley's attorney access to the files, but the order was not lifted entirely.

Keeley is due back in Plymouth District Court on Feb. 28 for a probable cause hearing. If a grand jury indicts him on the two counts of murder, the case will be moved to Plymouth Superior Court, where more serious crimes are tried and longer sentences can be imposed.

Marshfield police officers discovered the bodies of the Mattsons, both 70 years old, inside their home at 75 Gotham Hill Drive on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Officers were conducting a well-being check on the couple, who had not been seen by family on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24. Their bodies had "obvious signs of trauma," Cruz said.

Cruz said the couple were stabbed and bludgeoned. He wouldn't elaborate on how the victims and the suspect knew each other. The couple's dog was also found dead inside the home, and police say Keeley stole their car before leaving it in Avon.

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Suspect has lengthy Quincy District Court history

Keeley has had five cases go through Quincy District Court in the past decade, including charges of assault, malicious destruction of property and breaking and entering. A request for documents from the court ahead of Keeley's arrest revealed a lengthy rap sheet that started when Keeley − for whom court records show addresses in Quincy and Weymouth − was 18.

In 2016, when he was 21, Keeley was one of four people arrested and charged in Weymouth for beating up an autistic man before stealing his cellphone and wallet. Police said the four friends were driving when one of the people in the car got a message from the victim asking to meet. A police report on file says "the four occupants of the car devised a plan to rob him."

The victim told police he was jumped while walking to meet a woman near his house. Keeley was one of two men who attacked the victim, court documents say, before the woman was able to stop the attack.

Keeley pled guilty to larceny from a person and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced to 2½ years in jail with one year to serve and 18 months suspended.

Other charges Keeley has faced include malicious damage of a motor vehicle, felony breaking and entering, malicious destruction of property, possession and intent to distribute marijuana and Xanax, conspiracy to violate drug laws and carrying brass knuckles.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Accused Marshfield killer Christopher Keeley arraigned in Plymouth