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Pathologist: Man allegedly killed by brother died from wound on back of knee

keeler murder
KION

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION)

UPDATE 1/14/2020 1:50 p.m. A forensic pathologist with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office confirmed that 26-year-old Christopher Keeler's death was a homicide and released the cause.

The pathologist said Keeler died of hemorrhagic shock, which the Sheriff's Office said happens when there is a large amount of blood loss and the body begins to shut down. The blood loss resulted from a wound on the back of his left knee joint.

Christopher Keeler's brother, 28-year-old Joseph Keeler, was arrested at the home they shared on Green Valley Road on murder charges.

PREVIOUS STORY: A man was killed during an apparent disturbance at a home near Watsonville. His brother is the suspect in his murder.

“Motive is something we’re still investigating, but it was a dispute between the two men that led to this altercation,” Ashley Keehn with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said.

At around 2 a.m. Friday, deputies with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office responded to the report of the disturbance at the home in the 1400 block of Green Valley Road.

“I was pretty shocked just because I do walk by that house, and it's a really quiet house. The only noisy thing is their dogs,” neighbor Maryam Westfall said.

When deputies got there, they found 26-year-old Christopher Keeler with stab wounds. He was taken to a trauma center outside the county where he later died.

Other people in the home identified Joseph as the suspect when deputies arrived.

The victim's brother, 28-year-old Joseph Keeler, was arrested at the scene and is facing murder charges. His bail is set at $750,000.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 831-454-7635.

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