What to Know
- A Long Island woman died of her injuries Saturday, nearly two years after a brutal beating, police say
- Her 21-year-old daughter was charged with second-degree murder
- Her daughter's boyfriend, a former NYC corrections officer, had his charges upgraded from attempted murder to second-degree murder
A daughter and a former corrections officer were charged Sunday with murder in the death of a Long Island mom who was bludgeoned with a barbell nearly two years ago, police say.
Theresa Kiel, 56, of Long Beach, was attacked on Dec. 4, 2016, Nassau County police said. She lost an eye and her skull partially collapsed in the attack, which left her in a persistent vegetative state, prosecutors said.
Kiel, a former teacher, died of her injuries on Saturday, nearly two years after the attack, police said.
Ralph Keppler, 27, had previously been charged with attempted murder and assault, but that was upgraded to second-degree murder, police said.
Keppler had been charged back in January with attempted murder and assault and was out on bail. His lawyer says he's innocent.
Keppler worked as an NYC corrections officer and was arrested at Rikers, prosecutors said. He was later fired.
Local
Kiel's daughter, Francesca Kiel, 21, was also charged Saturday with second-degree murder. It wasn't clear what her role was.
She and Keppler had been dating at the time of the attack, according to media reports, and police said Sunday they lived at the same address in Lynbrook.
Keppler and Theresa Kiel were involved in a business dispute at the time of the attack, prosecutors said.
Information on Francesca Kiel's lawyer wasn't immediately available.
