Lee L. Richardson, 24, of Capitol Heights in Prince George’s County, received a life sentence on December 16, 2025, for the first-degree murder of 19-year-old Matthew Skye Keister in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court.
The crime occurred in January 2025 at Keister’s residence on Jones Wharf Road in Hollywood, Maryland. Family members reported Keister missing after daily communications stopped abruptly on January 21, 2025. On January 27, 2025, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an unresponsive male and discovered Keister’s body in an outdoor trash can at the property.
An autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore confirmed Keister died from a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators determined Richardson, a known associate of the victim, shot Keister inside the home, cleaned the scene to conceal evidence, and disposed of the body in the trash can.
State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling described the act in a statement: “After murdering his friend in a senseless betrayal, the Defendant callously disposed of the victim’s body. The Defendant murdered someone who trusted him, lied to the victim’s family about his involvement or knowledge, and left them to discover the truth on their own when they found their son’s body in a trash can. A life sentence is the only just outcome for the devastating harm the Defendant caused to this innocent family.”
Detective Benjamin Raley led the investigation for the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. An arrest warrant issued on January 30, 2025. U.S. Marshals apprehended Richardson in Prince George’s County the following week, as detailed in a local report on the fugitive capture. He was then transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Donna Pettersen and Alena Mosier handled the prosecution. The Honorable Joseph Stanalonis presided over the case and imposed the sentence.
In Maryland, first-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, reflecting the premeditated nature of the offense. Cases involving concealment of a homicide often involve additional charges, such as unlawful disposal of a body, though Richardson faced a single count of first-degree murder at sentencing following earlier proceedings.
The investigation relied on evidence including forensic analysis from the crime scene and autopsy, as well as links established between Richardson and Keister. No motive was publicly disclosed by authorities, and no additional suspects were identified.
The life sentence ensures Richardson remains incarcerated without parole eligibility for the murder conviction, aligning with state guidelines for the most serious violent crimes.
