Homicide Charges Filed in Greenville Motorcycle Crash
According to police reports, Joseph Lee Diefenderfer, 22, fled the scene of the crash that killed Benjamin Alabran, 25, and Cassie Keck, 21, both of Greenville. Diefenderfer was arrested and arraigned Sunday, and is being held at the Mercer County Jail on a $ 100,000 bond on two counts each of murder by vehicle, accidents involving death or personal injury and accidents involving damage to attended property. He was also charged with violations of driving an unregistered vehicle, driving under DUI suspension, required financial responsibility and unauthorized transfer or use of registration.
The crash happened just before 3 a.m. on state Route 18 near South Good Hope Road. Police said they learned all three had been at a bar before they crashed and had been headed to Headliners Gentleman's Club on state Route 18.
According to police, Diefenderfer was on one motorcycle and Alabran was operating the other with Keck as a passenger. The motorcycles were both heading south when they collided, reports state, and both hit the center guardrail.
Keck and Alabran were pronounced dead at the scene. Reports state that Diefenderfer fled the scene on foot. During the investigation, police learned that Diefenderfer then called two friends between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. to pick him up.
The friends told police they found him laying in a ditch on South Good Hope Road. They took him to their home, and when they woke up, Diefenderfer was gone.
Diefenderfer called police Sunday morning around 10 a.m. He would not tell them where he was and claimed that he had been home all night Friday until receiving a call to meet Alabran and Keck at Keystone Charter School before going to Headliners. He said while they were en route to Headliners, Alabran hit the back of his motorcycle.
However, police said that paint from the rear of Alabran's motorcycle! shows t he opposite occurred.
Witnesses also said they saw Diefenderfer with Alabran and Keck in Greenville, both at a bar and on the motorcycles near St. Michael's Church on North High Street between Friday night and early Saturday.
Reports state that Diefenderfer was arrested by Greenville-West Salem police on Sunday.
Alabran was a manager at Padrone's Pizza and Pub in downtown Greenville. Those who worked with him say he was boisterous, always had a big grin and a bigger heart.
"He was so fun, always made you laugh, always ready to do a joke. He liked magic, the grandkids loved him. He was just a great guy and he will be missed," said Cheryl Case, a friend of Alabran.
Keck had just celebrated her 21st birthday last week and worked at Pizza Hut in Greenville. She was a 2009 graduate of Greenville High School.
Many of the couple's friends started a makeshift memorial near the crash scene and said the two will live forever in their hearts.
Meanwhile, calling hours for Keck have been set for 12 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Loutzenhiser Jordan Colonial Funeral Home in Greenville. Her funeral is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Calling hours for Alabran will be 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the same funeral home. Services will be held at 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
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