The Dark Devotion: Unmasking Israel Keyes - Who Was Israel Keyes? (Part 2)

Body of Crime

“The Dark Devotion: Unmasking Israel Keyes - Who Was Israel Keyes? (Part 2)”

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🎙 The Dark Devotion: Unmasking Israel Keyes 🎙 – 🎞 Part I | 🎞 Part II | 🎞 Part III | 🎞 Part IV | 🎞 Part V

Part I – The Introduction
Part II – Who Was Israel Keyes?
Part III – Into the Mind of Israel Keyes
Part IV – Remembering Bill & Lorraine Currier
Part V – Samantha Koenig

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📚 Devil in the Darkness By: JT Hunter

Welcome, fellow true-crime enthusiasts, to today’s case file: “The Dark Devotion – Unmasking Israel Keyes”

Part II – Who Was Israel Keyes?

INTRODUCTION

In today's spine-tingling installment, we invite you to step into the enigmatic world of Israel Keyes, a man who thrived in the shadows, leaving a haunting trail of mystery and terror behind. While some have labeled him as one of the most meticulous, intelligent, and elusive serial killers of our time, we dare to ask: was he merely a troubled fanboy, consumed by a sinister obsession, his path shaped by a reclusive and extreme upbringing?

This unsettling journey will unravel the mysterious monster who was Israel Keyes—a man driven by a relentless quest for significance and control. With a chilling level of calculation, he operated on the fringes of society. Only one body has ever been recovered, with two more deaths confessed to but never found, leaving us with an unsettling sense of unease and intrigue that refuses to fade. Get ready to explore the mind of a killer who defies easy explanation, a man who yearned to be perceived as godlike, yet whose actions unveiled a nightmarish reality.

But before we plunge deeper into the abyss of his crimes, let's rewind to the beginnings of Israel Keyes.

THE BEGINNING

Born under the sign of Capricorn, Israel Keyes made his entrance into this world in the heart of Richmond, Utah, a picturesque town steeped in the history of Mormon pioneers. Founded in 1859 by pioneers under the guidance of Thomas S. Smart, Richmond was an integral part of the grand vision of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to establish flourishing communities across Utah and the Intermountain West.

Israel, the second of ten Keyes siblings and one of four Keyes sons, spent his early years in this rugged landscape. Richmond's economy revolved around agriculture, with fertile soil in the Cache Valley fostering the growth of wheat, barley, and sugar beets—thanks to ingenious irrigation systems that sustained the town's farming community.

The influence of the LDS Church ran deep in Richmond's development, as was typical in many early Utah settlements. The local congregation, known as a ward, served as the beating heart of community life, while the town itself adhered to the principles of the Church.

Israel's early life was profoundly shaped by his parents' unwavering devotion to the Mormon faith. His father, John Jeffrey Keyes—known as Jeff to those who knew him—had English roots and carried a name imbued with significance, "Yahweh is Gracious." Israel's mother, Heidi Hakansson, hailed from a German background. Both of them were devout members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, a faith that held its leaders, often regarded as prophets, in the highest esteem—almost akin to divinity itself.

In the initial five years of his life, Israel's family resided in California, attending a particular branch of Mormonism known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Torrance. This branch boldly practiced polygamy, defiantly breaking away from the broader LDS community, which had come under pressure to renounce plural marriages.

This faction drew significant media attention due to allegations of rape, unlawful marriages, molestation, and even the marriage of minors. One of the most infamous names associated with this group was Warren Jeffs, who had an astonishing number of wives and children. Disturbing cases within this religious sect raised concerns about potential trafficking of minors. The group's views on women often diverged markedly from mainstream Mormonism, with women sometimes seen as homemakers and child-bearers, and, in certain instances, possibly considered mere property.

This deeply ingrained upbringing within a religious sect rife with controversial practices and beliefs may offer a glimpse into the complex and troubled background of Israel Keyes and his psyche, which we will deconstruct in a future episode. Israel Keyes would be a man who would later become infamous for his chilling and calculated crimes.

At the age of five, Israel's life would take a significant turn as his family, now including his father, mother, older sister America, younger sisters Charity and Sunshine, relocated to Coleville, Washington. Over the years, more siblings would join their ranks—At seven, Keyes welcomed his sister Autumn-Rose and brother Ezra, at ten, his brother Isaac, at twelve, Elijah, and eventually sisters Hosanna and Jubilee Keyes.

But as Israel Keyes grew older, he began to realize that he was not like all the other boys and girls. He would find himself fascinated with hurting and torturing animals. His boyhood friends would distance themselves from him. He thought everyone enjoyed the same sadistic activities and failed to understand the rejection.

ADOLESCENSE & BECOMING AN ADULT

During his adolescent years, Israel Keyes was surrounded by sisters, in a harsh and strict religion. He would hone a unique skill - hairdressing. This talent would later earn him accolades as a stylist, a role he would embrace alongside his daughter, his only child....