Peter Keeley: Three teens charged over alleged Broulee Grindr murder
Three 17-year-old boys have been charged with murder after a Canberra father-of-three was allegedly lured to his death on the NSW south coast using gay dating app Grindr.
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Three teenage boys were charged with murder on Thursday after a father-of-three was allegedly lured to his death using gay dating app Grindr.
Peter Keeley, a 56-year-old Canberra auctioneer, was found tied up in bushland in the south coast town of Broulee two weeks ago with injuries to his head and face.
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The three 17-year-olds, two of whom were described by a source as “cleanskins” who came from good families, were arrested at their homes near Batemans Bay.
Police seized mobile phones, laptops and other electronic equipment.
A strike force was established after a man walking his dogs at Broulee on February 2 found Mr Keeley’s body lying in bushland 300m from Grant and McNee streets, his hands and legs tied with duct tape.
Mr Keeley had driven from Canberra to Broulee in a purple Honda Jazz that day.
He had drugs and other items on his person that suggested he was meeting someone for sex, and was found fully clothed in jeans and T-shirt.
Mr Keeley was previously married and had separated from his wife some years ago.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said one of the teens now accused of murder had been speaking to Mr Keeley on Grindr.
He said that police hadn’t ruled out gay hate crime as a possible motive.
A source said Mr Keeley had been using dating apps to talk to younger men.
“There were a number of dating apps that were used, and one of those dating apps was Grindr, and that appears to be the method of communication that links him to one of the teenagers,” Det Supt Doherty said.
“There’s a number of lines of inquiry so far … we have to look at other considerations such as whether there’s any drug related information, whether it was robbery related or whether it was in relation to some type of hate crime.”
The Keeley family on Thursday requested privacy for Mr Keeley’s three children.
“Our family is devastated and still coming to terms with the fact we have lost Peter,” their statement said.
“All that can be said is we have been deeply affected by this tragedy and we are still grieving.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming support from family and friends. As we continue to process this news, our family has requested privacy at this time to allow us to support Peter’s children.”
Those who knew Mr Keeley have described him as a loving man with a great sense of humour.
“Quick with a joke and a laugh. He always brought smiles to the faces of everyone around him,” one friend said.
Mr Keeley was a respected member of the West Belconnen Junior Rugby League club, where he was previously president.
“He was a great bloke who gave tirelessly to the club and Junior Rugby League,” a football friend said.
The teenagers were charged with murder and detaining a person in company with intent to get advantage occasioning actual bodily harm.