Something drew me to Dover, Kansas. On a frigid day in 1996, I jumped into my car and drove west from Burlingame, traveling through Harveyville on my way to tiny Dover, located about 10 miles southwest of Topeka.
In a conversation a few days before, Brenda Michelle Keller’s name was mentioned. It was a name most of us knew. Brenda died on Oct. 19, 1991, the victim of abduction and murder. She was only 12 years old and was riding her bike home on one of the country roads I drove along four years later.
It was a shocking story in a small town that exemplified the “that would never happen here” adage. Though I didn’t know Brenda, many of my friends did, and all of them were devastated. By all accounts, she was smart, sweet and innocent. She also was cherished by her family, including her father, the pastor at the community’s church.
After hours of driving around Dover, I ended up in the town’s cemetery. It was not difficult to find Brenda. Her gravesite is marked with a beautiful headstone on the east (back) side of the cemetery. On my first visit, it was surrounded by flowers, trinkets and 100 Grand candy bars (her favorite).
I was 19 at the time, and it was one of the more moving moments of my life. I thought about the grief her family felt. I thought about how much care her loved ones took in maintaining her resting place. I thought about the animal, a 22-year-old man sentenced to 40 years without parole, who brutalized her before ending her life. I thought about the court system, which released the murderer to his uncle, a Dover resident, shortly before the crime.
In the 20 years since, I’ve visited Brenda numerous times. Sometimes I leave a rose. Sometimes I leave a 100 Grand candy bar. Sometimes I just stop by. Sometimes I wonder if we would have connected and been friends later in life.
This is the first time I’ve written about my trips to Dover, largely because I couldn’t process it myself. Brenda Michelle Keller died at age 12, but she will live forever.
This story haunted me and still does to this day! Please tell her story! The love of this Red headed God Fearing beauty of only 12 yrs deserves to be remembered in a beautiful way! I will never forget her life and the impact she had on others!
Hi, Jennifer. The book should be out later this year. It’s been a journey, lot of “work,” but worth it.
This story has haunted me for years and I didn’t even know her. I think her father’s forgiveness penetrated my soul more than anything. A man of true Christian faith. I will always remember this.
Bob and Tracy are incredible people. I’m extremely fond of them and respect them a great deal.
Bob is an amazing man. His wife is an amazing person, too. They are wonderful people.
Hi, Theresa. Book should be out this year. Keep an eye out on my blog.
My brother taught and coached in Dover when this happened.. So traumatizing.
Hi, Tami. If you’re talking about Coach Z, I interviewed him about a year ago. I’ve done about 50 interviews so far.
I interviewed him toward the end of 2018. Coach Z is beloved there.
I don’t know if you are still researching this story. My older sister was best friends with Brenda and lived right across the street from her with my grandparents. I remember this like it happened yesterday. Such a horrible thing to have happen. We all use to play together. While I was too young to understand what really happened my older sister Misty was and still is deeply affected by her death. I found this when I was telling my son Brenda’s story! I do hope something will come of this if it hasn’t already.
Hello. Thank you for the comment. I have interviewed Misty and your grandmother, who I’m extremely impressed with. Incredible memory for being 90 years old.
I designed and built a addition to a farmhouse for Dr. Robert Keith outside Dover in 1974 I believe it was. He was a psychiatrist at the Menninger Clinic. I had worked for the Kiene & Bradley Architectural firm in Topeka. There was a creek and a nice pond for swimming on the property. It was brutally hot that summer. I remember driving by the ruins of an old stone barn on my way to the job site from Topeka every morning. I have photos of the addition, it’s actually quite nice.
Bill Andresen
Jersey City, NJ
Thank you for the comment. Please keep a lookout for an email I’m sending you. Ernie
I was introduced to the murderer on day prior at the property where this horrible murder took place. I spent a lot of time there growing up . So sad and needless.
Mr. Bibert: Thank you for the comment. I’ve sent you an email. You may be the only person alive, other than Tammy, who can say they interacted with Jon the day before this happened.
I was 10 when I heard about this. My dad and I used to go for drives on the scenic byway which took us through Dover. It was during one of those trips that he told me about it. Every time I went out on my bike I thought about the girl from Dover who wasn’t much older than me and how terrified she must have been. How close it was to where I lived. And wondered how many other men there were out there who could do the same thing to me.
I remember trying to find information about her years ago but I never knew her name and could never find anything. Tonight I randomly thought about her and checked to see if anything about it had finally surfaced online (which is how I got here). Now I finally know her name.
Thank you for sharing. Keep following my blog. I write about here on here quite a bit. Book should be done in the next few years.
Hi, Cate. One of the reasons I decided to write about this is my frustration with never finding anything online about Brenda. I think that’s a travesty.
Hi Ernie. I like your blog. Just happened to find it. Thanks for keeping my Strawberry’s memory alive.
Hi, Bob! I owe you a visit soon. Book is written … working on the publishing part of it now.
I was teaching junior high Sunday school in Dover when this tragic event occurred. Everyone was affected in this tight knit community. I especially remember the shock the poor youth of the church were in and the kids at this church and the sister church in Auburn were all together supporting each other during this difficult time.
Hi, Jared. Thank you for sharing. I’m hopeful the book will be out this year. It’s written … now working on getting it published.