(Michigan City, IN) - A murder charge has been filed in connection with an Indiana State Prison worker fatally attacked earlier this year.

 

Jeremy Davidson, 39, has been formally charged in La Porte Superior Court 2 for allegedly striking maintenance foreman Mike Keel in the head with a steel pipe in April. Keel, who was from the Valparaiso area, worked at the prison for nearly 30 years.

 

Davidson of Logansport is a convicted child molester serving what’s considered to be a life sentence. Despite his projected release date being well over 100 years from now, La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan said the decision to prosecute boiled down to the seriousness of the offense and need to pursue justice for the victim’s family.

 

Fagan noted charges were not filed until recently to give the victim’s family enough time in the healing process before having to start dealing with the court proceedings.

 

“We really wanted to give the family some space and to grieve,” he said.

 

Authorities stated that Keel and the offender were involved in an argument before the attack in the steel shop of the prison where inmates work.

 

Judge Richard Stalbrink, Jr. is presiding over the case.