CHRISTIANSBURG (WSLS 10) -- David Eisenhauer and Natalie Keepers discussed different ways to kill 13-year-old Nicole Lovell, according to testimony by Blacksburg Police Friday.
The two appeared in Montgomery County Juvenile and Domestic Relations court for a preliminary hearing. Eisenhauer, dressed in a black suit and tie, held his head down for much of the proceeding, looking up occasionally and talking with his attorneys.
Keepers, dressed in a purple hooded sweatshirt closely watched as investigators testified, her hair pulled back in a single ponytail.
Eisenhauer is charged with abduction and first-degree murder. Keepers was initially charged with accessory before and after the fact to the murder and improper disposal of a body in the death of Lovell; however, Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt moved to null process, or drop the accessory after the fact charge and moved forward only with the remaining two charges Friday morning.
Asked why she became involved, Blacksburg Police Detective Ryan Hite testified Keepers described being "part of a secret club" and that it was "the best club ever because he understood her."
She referenced Eisenhauer as "a sociopath" and herself as a "sociopath in training," according to Hite's testimony.
The two, Hite testified, discussed different ways to kill Lovell, including "drugging her," "making it look like suicide," or making it look liked she died of exposure to the elements.
"Eisenhauer's preference was to knock her out in the car and let her die from exposure to the elements but if that didn't work he would cut her throat," Hite testified.
The two began discussing the idea about a week after returning to campus from winter break, Hite testified.
They spent 15 to 20 minutes in Cookout in Blacksburg discussing the killing and how it would be carried out. They were seen on surveillance video, Hite testified.
The two communicated over text messages following the killing, according to Blacksburg Police Detective Scott Craig who specializes in mobile device extractions. Craig used FBI software to pull a conversation of instant messages between Eisenhauer and Keepers following the killing, in which the two talked about the search for Lovell and about smelling of cleaning supplies.
"I smell of cleaning supplies," Keepers text said according to a transcript read in court.
"Sameeeee," (sic) Eisenhauer replied.
"I'm so tired from this week. Like holy sh*$," read another text from Keepers' account.
"I guess we figured out how people commit mass murder now," read another message from Eisenhauer.
Craig continued to read through the transcript of messages on the witness stand, describing how Eisenhauer and Keepers discussed "as long as nobody finds the body for a week" and doing "overkill, but that's good."
In another message, Keepers mentions the weather, "also high is 36" and "the smell will be masked longer" Craig read.
Detective Hite also testified Keepers "was more than glad to talk to us" and wanted to help in the investigation. She told him several times she'd be more than willing to take them to the places they stopped. Keepers detailed how she and Eisenhauer went to Target in Christiansburg to look for a snow shovel and then to Walmart in Christiansburg where they bought what appeared to be a "digging shovel" January 26, he said.
Keepers told investigators Eisenhauer came to her dorm at 2 am that Wednesday, "freaked out" because a girl he was messaging from a party they met at was not 16 but 13 or 14, Hite testified.
During interviews with police, Keepers went on to give a detailed description of what they did, including how they got in his car on January 27, powered their cell phones off and drove to Craig Creek Road after Eisenhauer killed Lovell because he was concerned they needed to move Lovell's body because of the media attention in the case, Hite testified.
Keepers told investigators she'd never met Lovell before she saw her body, partially covered by snow, Hite said. The spot, Hite testified, was not Keepers' choice. She wanted "a more secluded location with no street lights or houses."
Hite continued, the two removed the body, dragged her down a hill and put her in the trunk, having to force her body in the trunk when other vehicles drove by.
The two then headed south toward Galax, pulling off onto a secluded area once into Surry County, North Carolina and removed the body. Eisenhauer, Keepers told investigators, removed Lovell's clothing and wiped down her body with wipes, Hite testified. Eisenhauer tried to push the body over an embankment and left it with no effort to conceal her, Hite said.
The original plan, Hite testified, was to bury the body on Eisenhower's grandparents' property in Galax.
The two then left to return to Blacksburg, using a Garmin GPS until they were in a familiar area and powered off the device.
According to Hite, Keepers lead them to a Dublin McDonald's where they disposed of bloody clothes in a dumpster, used the restroom, washed their hands and bought a drink.
That Thursday, Eisenhauer and Keepers met at a campus laundromat to wash the clothes they wore the night before, using a Hokie Passport account to pay. They went to West Virginia where they pulled off a dirt road to throw some of Lovell's belongings -- including her boots-- into the New River, Hite testified. He noted, Keepers was very detailed in her statements although she wasn't familiar with the area and often mixed up Route 460 with Interstate 81.
Seven investigators testified, including detectives from Blacksburg Police and special agents with Virginia State Police.
Montgomery County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Robert Viar found probable cause and certified charges against both Eisenhauer and Keepers to be heard by a grand jury.