BLACKSBURG – Two suspects in the abduction and murder of Blacksburg teen Nichole Madison Lowell are scheduled to be arraigned today in Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Both David E. Eishenhauer and Natalie M. Keepers are being held withbout bond in Montgomery County Jail.
A Columbia, Maryland, native, Eishenhauer, 18, was arrested Saturday on one felony count of first degree murder and one felony count of abduction.
From Laurel, Maryalnd, Keepers, 19, was arrested Sunday and is facing one felony count of improper disposal of a dead body (Code of Virginia 18.2-323.02) and one misdemeanor count of accessory after the fact in the commission of a felony (Code of Virginia 18.2-19).
Both are Virginia Tech students.
On Saturday afternoon, the four-day search for the missing 13-year-old Blacksburg girl came to an end. At approximately 4 p.m. Saturday, Virginia State Police located Lowell’s remains near Route 89, in Surry County, North Carolina. With the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, FBI Charlotte, N.C., Field Office, and the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office, her remains arrived early Sunday morning at the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke, Va., for autopsy and examination.
Based on the evidence, investigators have determined that Eisenhauer and Nicole were acquainted prior to her disappearance. Eisenhauer used this relationship to his advantage to abduct the 13-year-old and then kill her. Keepers helped Eisenhauer dispose of Lovell’s body.
The investigation into Nicole’s abduction and death remains active as investigators continue to pursue roughly 300 leads generated during the course of the past five days. The Blacksburg Police are being assisted in the investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Christiansburg Police, City of Radford Police, Virginia Tech Police, Virginia State Police, ATF and FBI.
Investigators are still encouraging the public to come forward with any information concerning Lovell, Eisenhauer and/or Keepers to contact the Blacksburg Police Department at 961-1150.
– Submitted by Blacksburg Police Lt. M.B. Albert