INDIANAPOLIS -- Police say they're looking for an Ohio man in connection with three killings that happened in northwestern Indiana and southwestern Ohio on Monday morning.
Authorities said Melvin M. Keeling, 43, is a person of interest in the slayings of a 13-year-old girl in Warren County, Ohio, and the fatal shootings of two convenience store clerks in Remington, Ind., about 70 miles northwest of Indianapolis' northern border.
Police said Katelind Caudill was found fatally shot at about 5:45 a.m. Indianapolis time in southwestern Ohio's Deerfield Township. Authorities said the seventh-grader's grandmother found her body inside their home.
Authorities said they believe Keeling's stepdaughter and Caudill may have been friends.
Slideshow: Police Investigate Three Killings
Investigators believe Keeling may have been involved in the 10 a.m. fatal shootings of two clerks at the Family Express convenience store in Remington, near Interstate 65, police said.
Authorities said Lisa Kendall, 29, of Renssalear, and Kendora Furr, 38, of Remington, died during the Indiana shootings, which police said happened during a robbery attempt.
One of the women died at the store, while the other was pronounced dead a short time later at Jasper County Hospital, Chief Deputy Sheriff Terry Risner said.
Police said Keeling was identified from images captured by a camera inside the convenience store after the shooting was reported.
Family Express said in a news release Monday that it was offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the women's killer.
Keeling was last seen driving east on U.S. 24 near Remington, Jasper County sheriff's Detective Pat Williamson said. Authorities believe Keeling was driving a silver 2000 Ford Windstar minivan with Ohio license plate DW18AW.
Police said Keeling should be considered armed and dangerous.
Cincinnati ABC affiliate WCPO reported that Keeling was charged in an unrelated case Monday with two counts of rape and 24 counts of gross sexual imposition involving a child.
Keeling was described as a black man who is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds. He has a black, tight curly Afro, brown eyes and a moustache. He was last seen wearing a dark green T-shirt with a stripe down the sleeves, blue jeans and dark shoes.
Police said anyone with information about Keeling's whereabouts can call the Jasper County (Ind.) Sheriff's Department at (219) 866-7334.
Copyright 2005 by TheIndyChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
