The Murder of Julie Keown: A Bright Future Is Cut Short

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a three-part series about the 2004 murder of Waltham resident Julie Keown, by her husband James Keown, as detailed by private investigator and non-fiction crime writer Lara Bricker in her book “Lie After Lie.” Bricker gave a lecture on the book and case on April 13 at the .

In the spring of 2004, Julie Oldag Keown moved to Waltham from Jefferson City, Missouri, with hopes of a bright future. She relocated here with her husband James Keown so he could attend Harvard Business School, according to Lara Bricker, a crime writer who recently authored a new book titled “Lie After Lie,” about the Keown case. Bricker recently lectured about the book at the Waltham Public Library.

Julie, a wholesome-looking girl from Plattsburg, Missouri, worked as a nurse for Cerner, a software company that specialized in reducing waste and error in the health care industry, according to Bricker. The crime author said in her lecture, that Julie, a friendly woman who dreamed of having a family, relished the adventure of living on the East Coast while her husband worked toward his degree.

Of course, Julie, 31, did not know that she had been brought to Waltham to die.

James’s life also began in Missouri, where he grew up in a political family. He got his first job at a radio station when he was 13 and later went on to become a popular radio show host in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Bricker. When he and Julie moved to Waltham, James was working as a marketing consultant for an educational consulting firm, Bricker said. She related that he was meticulous about his appearance, even wearing a suit and tie to school during the seventh grade.

By all accounts, said Bricker, James was a great guy. Happy and engaging, James was always the first to buy a round of drinks at a bar or treat the whole table to dinner. People often wondered how he could afford his lifestyle, which included expensive cars and clothing, Bricker said.  Nonetheless, the author said to all appearances, James and Julie were happy; in a letter to her parents, Julie said they were saving money for their future.

The truth, however, was far different. James’s entire life was an elaborate lie that had been unraveling faster than he could weave it back together.  He had never been accepted to Harvard, the couple’s finances were in shambles and James’s lavish lifestyle was in jeopardy, according to Bricker. That’s when Julie, who suffered from a pre-existing kidney condition, became ill, she said.

When Julie first experienced abdominal pain in the spring of 2004, she worried that her condition may be worsening, according to Bricker. She consulted with physicians and underwent testing, but the source of Julie’s pain remained a mystery. She never associated her illness with the abrupt death of her cat, which occurred shortly before she moved to Massachusetts, Bricker said. The cat died of a mysterious kidney ailment, but that connection was not discovered until after Julie’s death, according to the author.

Julie, however, did seem to rebound when she visited her parents in Missouri, Bricker said. Everyone believed the fresh air on her parents’ farm did her some good, she said.

When Julie returned to Waltham, her ailment returned as well. Appearing concerned, James took Julie to the hospital on a few occasions, according to Bricker. Julie’s long-standing kidney disease did not seem to be the source of her pain. Seeking clearer answers, Julie sought the advice of her doctor, her mother and nursing friends, but no one could explain the severe pain. James encouraged her to get more rest and drink her Gatorade to restore her electrolytes.

On Sept. 4, 2004, Julie’s health rapidly declined as she displayed flu-like symptoms. James rushed her to where she slipped into a coma. During Julie’s visit, doctors became suspicious and ordered additional tests, according to Bricker. Julie’s parents hurried to their daughter’s side, but she never awoke.

Tests confirmed that Julie had ingested ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in antifreeze and doctors started giving her an antidote, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. Julie had been ingesting tiny amounts, which can be fatal, for months, according to Bricker. Julie’s parents told Bricker that although they were unaware of the test results, they felt uneasy and they too went to the to report suspicions about their son-in-law.

On Sept. 8, 2004, Julie was taken off of life support and passed away from what was later ruled “acute and chronic ethylene glycol poisoning,” according to the district attorney's office.