Rockingham County Firefighter and Family's Deaths Ruled Homicides
*** A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Rockingham, Augusta, Shenandoah, Hardy, Page, Warren, Clarke, and Frederick until 8 p.m. Wednesday. 1" - 3" of snow are possible, with the heaviest snowfall in the mid afternoon. Snow could stick on untreated roads. Drive with Caution. *** *** A Winter Weather Advisoryis in effect for Highland, Pendleton, and Grant counties until 10 p.m. Wednesday. 2" - 4" of snow are possible, with the heaviest snowfall in the mid morning through the afternoon. Snow will likely stick to many untreated roads and visibility will be reduced. Drive with Caution. ***
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Updated: 4:50 PM Oct 29, 2009
Rockingham County Firefighter and Family's Deaths Ruled Homicides
Hardy County
The West Virginia medical examiner says three victims of a Hardy County fire were shot at least one time. Investigators believe the fire was set to cover up a triple homicide.
Posted: 9:09 AM Oct 27, 2009
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Rockingham County investigators have placed 34-year-old Nakia Heath Keller and 34-year-old Lorie Ann Taylor, both of Fulks Run, in custody based on warrants obtained by Hardy County, West Virginia Sheriff’s deputies in conjunction with a Friday night fire which killed three in Mathias.

The fire, which has been ruled as arson, is believed to have been used to conceal the bodies of 34-year-old Dennis “Chip” Taylor, 38-year-old Allaina Taylor as well as Allaina’s five-year-old daughter, Kaylee Grace Whetzel.

All three victims had been shot at least one time. The WV State Medical Examiners Office has ruled all three deaths as a homicide.

Lorie is Chip's ex-wife. The two had recently divorced and had been in a heated custody battle over the pair's three children. Those children were not present at the time of the fire. Lorie now resides with and is reported to have recently married Nakia Keller.

Search warrants were executed by investigators in Hardy and Rockingham counties, which led to information being gathered to obtain arrest warrants.

The investigation conducted by the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, WV State Police, WV State Fire Marshall’s Office, Loudon and Rockingham county sheriff‘s offices continues.

Keller and Lorie are presumed innocent until proven guilty. They currently await extradition to West Virginia.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Whitney on Jan 6, 2012 at 01:48 PM

This is honestly sick. How could you do this to anyone, including a little girl. They should be punished severely. And really? A firefighter? Who puts their life on the line day by day to save people like them. I have no words to describe the feeling I have. I'm really disgusted. No one has the right to take anyone's life, only God. I'm not here to judge, but I do know that what they've done has not only impacted them and the poor victims, but all of the friends and family who care about them. My prayers go out to all whom have been hurt by this horrific murder. I'm a firefighter as well, so I respect Chip. I've heard he was an amazing firefighter and an even better dad and friend. I really wish I could've known him.
Posted by: j Location: here on Nov 9, 2009 at 07:04 PM

I just wished that WV had the death penalty still!!!! These are the kind of people who need to be taken out of society FOREVER. Every state should have the death penalty.
Posted by: jennifer w Location: mathias on Nov 2, 2009 at 09:40 AM

To all of you that or arguing over this case and how innocent the two monsters are that murdered a precious family in our community, please just stop and think for a minute........(a beautiful child was murdered).....and instead of arguing and fussing we should all be PRAYING!!!!!!! Our community is shaken over this,sickened over this, and our hearts are completely broken!!!My tears seem not to stop when i think of that child and her wonderful family that will only see her again in heaven!!She never had the chance to live her life due to the choices of two monsters that will be taken care of not only in prison but in the fiery pits of hell. So take a minute out of your day and remember Kaylee, and her family.And please pray that this never happens to your family!!!!!!
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