For Immediate Release: April 10, 2008                                
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325

Mistrial Declared In Keown Murder Case
New Trial Date Scheduled For June 9

WOBURN– Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public that a mistrial has been declared in the case of Commonwealth vs. James Keown.

Keown, formerly of Waltham, is charged with first degree murder in connection with alleged poisoning death of his wife, Julie Oldag Keown, age 31, in September 2004.

Middlesex Superior Court Judge Geraldine Hines granted a defense motion and declared a mistrial yesterday due to the unavailability of a defense expert who underwent an emergency medical procedure.  A new trial date of June 9 was scheduled.

According to authorities, on September 4, 2004, Julie Oldag Keown was admitted to Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH) in Newton, MA, with various flu-like and other symptoms of unknown origin.  In the preceding 4 months, she had suffered varying degrees of such symptoms and had been treated by several local physicians. She also had been admitted to NWH on one occasion in August for four days.  On September 5, 2004, medical personnel at NWH determined that Ms. Keown had ethylene glycol, a poisonous substance commonly found in anti-freeze, in her system, and began to administer an antidote. 

On September 7, 2004, relatives of Ms. Keown went to the Waltham Police Department and informed investigators of their suspicion that she had perhaps been poisoned.  The same day, NWH also notified Waltham Police that they were treating Ms. Keown and suspected poisoning.  Waltham Police contacted State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, and together with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, they commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspected poisoning. 

On September 8, 2004, Ms. Keown was pronounced dead at NWH. On September 9, 2004, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (ME) conducted an autopsy on Ms. Keown.  At that time, both the manner and cause of death were not ruled upon, pending further investigation and toxicology testing.

After an exhaustive, year-long, joint investigation into Ms. Keown’s death, investigators believe that Ms. Keown’s husband, James Keown, poisoned his wife by putting ethylene glycol into her food and drinks over a period of time.  The ME ultimately ruled the death a homicide, finding the cause of death to be acute and chronic ethylene glycol poisoning.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office presented the case to a Middlesex Grand Jury.  On Thursday, November 3, 2005, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Mr. Keown with murder in connection with his wife’s death. 

Authorities sought and obtained a capias warrant from the Superior Court for Mr. Keown’s arrest, and the indictment was sealed pending his arrest. Investigators from the State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Waltham Police traveled to Jefferson City, Missouri, where Mr. Keown was believed to be living. He was placed under arrest without incident shortly after 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 7, 2005, by Jefferson City Police, with the assistance of U.S. Marshals, at his place of work in Jefferson City. 

Mr. Keown was arraigned as a fugitive from justice in Missouri that afternoon.  He waived rendition, and was transported to Massachusetts in police custody.  He was booked and held overnight at the Waltham Police Deaprtment.

Mr. Keown was arraigned on November 10, 2005 in Middlesex Superior Court in Cambridge, before Judge Catherine White.  He was ordered held without bail. 

These charges are allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nathaniel Yeager. The victim witness advocates are Susie Marshall and Kara Grant.

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