Francesca
Keil, a Lynbrook woman who pleaded guilty for her role in her mother’s murder,
was sentenced Thursday to 13 years in prison.
On
Dec. 4, 2016, Theresa Kiel was bludgeoned with a metal barbell in the breezeway
of her New York Avenue apartment building and left for dead. Police would later
arrest Ralph Keppler, a city correction officer and boyfriend to Francesca
Keil.
She
was also arrested for aiding in the murder. The pair eventually pleaded
guilty. Keppler received 22 years to life in prison. Francesca pleaded to a
lesser charge of manslaughter.
Prosecutors
say the murder was over money – specifically, a business deal with Keppler that
went bad. Detectives say Francesca Keil knew about the planned attack and
helped track her mother with a GPS device in her car.
During
her virtual sentencing, Judge Christopher Quinn said to Keil, "I can't
understand how you got to the point where we are today."
Keil
apologized to the court. "I know I have asserted emotional, physical,
psychological pain and suffering. There is no excuse for my actions." She
added: "Nothing can compare to the self-loathing that I have for
the role I played in this."
It
fell flat for Theresa’s former neighbor, Laura Stone.
“I
mean she's a snake and so is her boyfriend for doing this. I heard those
screams,” she said.