'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The disappearance of Julia Deede Keller in 2004 led the authorities to the horrific discovery of her decomposed body four days later in San Diego. Deede was suffocated to death by her ex-husband, Erwin Howard, in a fit of rage. Erwin had allegedly been jealous of her new relationship and had acted out on July 9, 2004.
The Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode titled Betrayal of Trust re-airs May 30, 2024, at 8 p.m. EST on Oxygen and focuses on the chilling details of Julia Deede Keller's murder. The official synopsis of the episode reads,
"Deede Keller has a loving family, a tight circle of friends and a new man in her life; when she vanishes, disturbing clues point investigators to a suspect with a dark secret; the case provides a twist that leaves the courtroom astonished."
Trending
Episode 17 of season 7 of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered originally aired on August 23, 2019.
Five details about Julia Deede Keller's murder explored
1) Deede Keller was last seen on July 8, 2004
The established real estate agent from El Segundo was last seen with her new boyfriend, Bobby Lowe, on July 8, 2004. Lowe and Keller had been out on a date on the day of her disappearance. According to The Sun, Lowe dropped her home and left for his place sometime between 11 p.m. and midnight.
According to Lowe's statement, Deede had a bit too much wine, so Lowe laid her on the couch. He went to the gym the next day and found her unresponsive to calls or texts for the next three days.
2) Keller's decomposed body was found in the trunk of her car in San Diego
Julia Deede Keller's children, Michael and Julie, had been trying to reach her over her phone but failed to do so. Michael dropped by her Richmond Street home to find Deede's dogs' water bowl bone dry. Realizing something wrong, he contacted his sister and reported his mother missing on July 11, 2004.
While her close ones began an extensive search with missing posters, the police officers received a tip about Deede's missing Mercedes Benz spotted in downtown San Diego. Julia Deede Keller's decomposed body was found wrapped in sheets and red tape in the trunk of her 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 in the 1000 block of 11th Avenue in San Diego on July 15, 2004, per The San Diego Union-Tribune.
3) Erwin Howard had been stalking Deede and her new boyfriend, Bobby Lowe
The investigations into her murder revealed suspicious activity on her ex-husband, Erwin Howard's part. According to his alibi, he was an employee at the American Airlines maintenance terminal at Los Angeles International Airport and had been at work for 10 hours straight.
However, investigators dug into the matter and found that Erwin had found a way to escape work despite having computerized records of entry and exit time. Erwin Howard would stalk Deede and Bobby, which was confirmed when Michael testified to having spotted him in his green Range Rover. Michael Keller lived a block away from Bobby Lowe.
4) Deede and Erwin had a violent confrontation on June 30, 2004
Julia Deede Keller had been in a car accident six months before her disappearance. Erwin had helped her with the daily chores and took care of her four dogs. Deede's close friends alleged that Erwin had hoped to get back with her. The Sun reported that Deputy District Attorney John Lewin shared,
“He didn’t want the marriage to end. He loved this woman."
Howard had allegedly confessed to his friends that he had Keller’s e-mail account and had followed her on her dates. On June 30, 2004, Erwin entered Deede's home while she was in the shower. He confronted her with printouts of her emails talking about a new boyfriend and slapped her during the conversation.
5) Erwin confessed to killing Deede on the stand
The red tape found on Deede's body was traced to the American Airlines hangar, and sniffer dogs found Erwin Howard's scent on it. Howard was arrested with charges of Julia Deede's murder. However, he confessed to killing her in a fit of rage.
Erwin Howard wrapped Deede in a bear hug and suffocated her till she lost consciousness. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for second-degree murder but was released after serving 10 years on grounds of good behavior, per Daily Breeze.
Catch all the details of Deedee Keller's murder case as it airs on Dateline: Secrets Uncovered on Oxygen on Thursday.
