A Marion County man is facing serious charges after authorities say he gave drugs to a missing teen and kept her at his residence despite knowing she was classified as endangered.
Alexander “Alex” Keehner was arrested on May 13 on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and interference with child custody. According to reports from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the case began May 8 when a juvenile left home after a heated argument with her mother, leaving behind a troubling note: “You are the worst mom ever. Hopefully I’m found alive.”
Deputies say the teen had been stripped of her internet access for visiting inappropriate sites, but managed to connect with Keehner on Snapchat, where the two discussed drugs. Investigators later discovered conversations in which Keehner allegedly offered the juvenile psilocybin mushrooms and encouraged her to “relax” while waiting for the high to kick in.
The teen was eventually located and taken to The Vines Hospital for evaluation after expressing suicidal thoughts. During interviews with DCF and law enforcement, she also claimed to have smoked meth with Keehner the day she ran away.
Despite initially telling deputies that the girl had only briefly stopped by his house before leaving in another car, Keehner was later spotted with the teen again—this time riding together in a vehicle that was blocked in by a quick-thinking friend of the victim’s mother.
Authorities say Keehner knew the girl was missing and endangered. Now, he’s facing felony charges.
