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This episode details the 16-month investigation into the murder of LaShawn Keith, a 33-year-old homeless man whose body was discovered in a Van Buren County field in November 2022. Michigan State Police Detective Chris Hayward used DNA from a glove left at the scene to track down Mr. Ochoa, who admitted to helping dispose of the body but named two acquaintances, Zachary Traynor and Brian Wimbley, as the attackers. Both Traynor and Wimbley eventually confessed to confronting Keith after a night of drinking following months of friction at a local construction site, though each blamed the other for wielding the sledgehammer that broke Keith's femur and ribs.
Throughout their interrogations, Traynor and Wimbley minimized their involvement, pointing fingers at one another while describing how they beat the victim and later tried to revive him with gas station snacks and Gatorade instead of calling an ambulance. Detective Hayward secured matching confessions from both men, revealing how wounded pride, heavy drinking, and a trivial dispute escalated into fatal violence. In the end, Ochoa pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact and received 18 months, while Traynor and Wimbley both accepted plea deals for second-degree murder, receiving 15 to 30 years in prison.
Hosts open the episode with a brief disclaimer about adult content and a casual greeting.
A commercial for Toyota trucks interrupts the conversation, promoting affordability and durability.
Detective Chris Hayward arrives at the Van Buren office to begin questioning a suspect about a murder case.
Discussion on encouraging women to get tested and empowering conversations about sexual health.
Ad for Babbel highlighting real conversation practice and special discount for listeners.
Investigation stalls until a DNA match provides a critical breakthrough.
Different witnesses describe the suspects, revealing conflicting narratives.
Incarcerated suspects share new insights that challenge earlier accounts.
Summary of charges, plea deals, and final sentences for the involved parties.
Hosts promote the new episode “Frail” and explain platform availability.
Various advertisements for fall season products and business loans are presented.
DNA Evidence Links Suspectdata
Detective Hayward confronts Mr. Ochoa in the interrogation room, revealing that his DNA was found on gloves left at the body disposal site.
Ochoa describes how he was picked up one night, taken to the scene, and hired to help move a heavy, carpet-wrapped object that turned out to be a dead body.
Conflicting Halloween Night Memoriesdebate
Brian Wimbley claims he barely remembers leaving the bar on Halloween night before heading back to the job site, while Zachary Traynor places the planning on Brian.
The Brutal Leg Injuryinsight
Zachary and Brian describe a chaotic melee near the train tracks where a blow from a hammer broke the victim's femur and turned his leg into jelly.
Gatorade and Chips Aftermathstory
After brutally beating the victim, Zachary claims he returned to a gas station to buy the dying man Gatorade and chips in a misguided attempt to help.
Guilty Pleas and Sentencingdata
Both Zachary Traynor and Brian Wimbley forgo a jury trial and plead guilty to second-degree murder, receiving sentences of 15 to 30 years in prison.
“The body lay east to west directly between a set of tire tracks.”
“The first thing Detective Hayward noticed was the man's position.”
“The body was beaten and bruised, but the most noticeable injury was on the leg.”
“He was a 33-year-old, 310-pound, 6-foot-1 man, whose only relatives lived in Georgia.”
“When faced with the accusation of murder, Ochoa came clean.”
“He didn't have to bully Ochoa. He only had to let him talk long enough to tell on everyone else.”
“I say get tested together, and that's beautiful.”
“If you go to a location with the intent of committing a crime, no matter what it is, whether it be assault or robbing a Snickers bar, and in that act, something goes wrong and someone dies, well, guess what?”
“LaShawn Keith didn't have many material possessions, but he had a life and he had a family and he was a human being.”
“I was, like I said, I was scared shitless at that point as soon as I heard that first cry.”
When 33-year-old Lashaun Keith’s body is discovered in a remote Michigan hay field, detectives have almost nothing to go on. There are no eyewitnesses and no clear suspects. All they find is a single glove. Sixteen months later, that glove points them to three men, each telling a different story about the same deadly night. Get instant access to all episodes, including premium unreleased episodes, commercial-free at swordandscale.com
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