5 key details about Dallas Kellis' murder

The murder of Dallas Kellis, a retired 76-year-old from Aberdeen, North Carolina, shocked the local community in July 2016. Known for his friendly demeanor and well-kept lawn, Dallas was found dead in his home under suspicious circumstances.

Initially reported as a death from natural causes by his wife, Margaret Kellis, the truth unraveled when authorities discovered he had been shot. Margaret, 81 at the time, was accused of first-degree murder. This case stirred up some alarming, complicated details.

A large number of media sources had attention focused on the case. The case will be featured on a Snapped Oxygen True Crime episode on December 15, 2024. The episode focuses on all those facts in the case, those facts that explain exactly how events led to this murder and how things unraveled during the subsequent probe.

---

Five revelations about Dallas Kellis' murder

1) Margaret Kellis first said she was out getting breakfast

Frankie claimed she was out to get ham sandwiches from McDonald's (Representative Photo by pexels )

According to The Pilot, on the morning of Dallas Kellis' death, Margaret called 911, stating that she had returned home to find him unconscious after her trip to McDonald's. She recounted walking out to get a ham sandwich for her husband and then coming back to find him seemingly asleep.

When Dallas Kellis did not respond to her calls, she went into the room and said she found him unresponsive. However, further investigations reveal discrepancies in her account.

---

2) Cause of Dallas Kellis' death: Gunshot wounds to abdomen and head

First responders, however, had no evidence of foul play until blood was found on Dallas's pillow. Upon autopsy, there were gunshots on his abdomen and head.

According to The Pilot, police officers further confirmed that no evidence existed to signify any signs of entry or robbery at the house where Dallas Kellis and his wife Margaret used to reside. This pointed to someone close to Dallas Kellis, such as Margaret, as the likely perpetrator.

---

3) Margaret Kellis allegedly tried to tamper with witnesses

Representative image of arrest(Photo by pexels)

It has been alleged that during imprisonment, Margaret attempted to intimidate certain of the witnesses during the case. Prosecutors were keen to point out how such an act proved that Margaret intended to influence witnesses.

This was detrimental in court terms because her potential to influence testimony should be a significant cause for alarm. According to The Pilot, she even threatened harm to another inmate inside. During her bail application hearings in 2017, she was deemed to pose a danger to others and flight.

---

4) Relatives thought Margaret Kellis was able to escape

After Dallas Kellis' death, it is said that Margaret fled to Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama before being arrested months later in October 2016. Family members feared that if released on bail, she would flee again.

According to The Pilot, this raised concerns about her behavior, as she allegedly ran out the back door when deputies arrived at her house to take her into custody. This contributed to the decision to maintain her high bond of $1 million.

---

5) Margaret Kellis had a checkered past

Frankie was convicted of felony too (Representative Photo by pexels )

Prosecutors revealed that Margaret Kellis had a history of legal troubles, including multiple felony convictions. Her most recent conviction before Dallas’ death was for felony larceny in 2009.

According to The Pilot, while her defense attorney argued she had no violent history and suffered from health issues, her criminal record painted a more troubling picture. Some family members believed Dallas Kellis, a kind and trusting man, may not have been fully aware of her past when they married.

---

Snapped airs on Oxygen True Crime this Sunday, December 15, at 6:00 pm EST.