Accused Tucumcari killer pleads not guilty

QCS Senior Writer

Keller

A Tucumcari man pleaded not guilty to an open count of murder Monday morning in Quay County Magistrate court in connection to the death of Kimberly Draman, said Tim Rose, 10th Judicial District, Chief Deputy District Attorney.

Rose said Frank Keller, 45, was charged Friday with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.

Draman, 53, had been missing from Tucumcari since Sept. 13. Her remains were discovered Oct. 5 on private property 12 miles northeast of Tucumcari at the intersection of U.S. 54 and Quay County Road AC.

Rose said Keller admitted to investigators his involvement in Draman's death and took investigators to the site of Draman's remains, which were confirmed as Draman's on Oct. 9 by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigators.

Officials have not release a cause of death.

Draman was last seen in the company of Keller and through the course of the investigation officers were able to confirm they were casual friends, said New Mexico State Police Lt. Mat Broom.

Broom said Keller, a convicted sex offender and accused methamphetamine user, was arrested Sept. 18 driving Draman's vehicle in Las Vegas, Nev., and held on an unspecified drug possession charge.

Keller was extradited from Nevada to Tucumcari on Oct. 4, Quay County Sheriff Joe Schallert said.

Keller is being held in the Quay County Detention Center without bond.