Robert Keegan – Courtesy JCSO
By Brad Smith
ASHLAND, Ore – Some people aren’t
shocked by Robert Paul “Bob” Keegan’s arrest after he allegedly shot a young
Black man on Nov. 23.
His ex-wife Amy Jo Hoppins is one
of them.
While a GoFundMe account in
Keegan’s name proclaims that he’s a kind and loving man, a good father –
Hoppins and others say otherwise.
“Bob’s a violent man. Violent,
manipulative, abusive and cruel,” she said. “Everyday I was with him, I felt
threatened. I was strangled, suffocated and hit. I lost count the number of
times he threatened to shoot me. He even drugged me from time to time. And,
even worse, was how abusive he was to my son. One time, he even lit a torch and
threatened to burn my home. Yes, he’s that crazed. He was a monster.”
A son that Keegan had custody of
at the time of the shooting. Keegan and his son were staying at the Stratford
Inn after claiming he’d lost his home during the Almeda Fire. While media
reports stated Keegan was from Talent, Hoppins said her ex’s last known address
was on the 300 block of Kent Street in Ashland.
At around 4:20 a.m. Monday, Keegan,
allegedly shot and killed a young Black man named Aidan Ellison, 19, Ashland.
Ellison was reportedly in the Ashland's Stratford Inn parking lot and listening
to music. Cops said that Keegan was not happy about the loud music and -- armed
with a concealed handgun -- went outside to confront Ellison. An argument
ensued and Ellison was shot. Keegan was taken into custody and charged with second-degree
murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful possession of a firearm (Keegan
didn't have a concealed weapon permit) and recklessly endangering another
person. As of press time, Keegan is in the county jail and held without bond.
While it has been reported that
Keegan didn’t have a criminal record, Hoppins stated that in 2012 she got a restraining
order against him when they lived in Coos County. However, she claimed that
Keegan routinely violated the restraining order and the physical and emotional
abuse continued.
“He’d force his way into my home
and take my phone and car keys,” she said. “And, when I did make a report –
nothing was done. Bob had a way of convincing people that he was the good guy. He’s
still good at it.”
One anonymous source claimed they
knew both Hoppins and Keegan when they were together.
“Amy was always terrified,” they
said. “Not only of Keegan but his goddamned family. Some of them threatened her
on a number of occasions and she didn’t know what to do.”
Hoppins said in January 2015
Keegan left with her son. She has been waging a fight to get custody of her son
and, ever since, the threats have continued.
“At one point, my lawyer said it
was a good idea to leave,” she said. “So, I did. I’m in another part of the
country and I’m still afraid. My son, when we do talk, has told me about Bob
and his family talking about what they want to do to me. Yes, I’m scared as
hell.”
The anonymous source said it was
possible that Keegan supposedly had his records expunged – explaining why nothing is on record.
“He’s just the sort of slime who
would do that,” they said.
Hoppins said she’s contacted the
Ashland Police Dept. and told them about her past with Keegan. She has also
doubled down on her efforts to get custody of her son.
“I don’t think he’s safe with
(Keegan’s) family,” she said. “They’re just as bad as he is. He needs to be
somewhere safe from them.”
Hoppins said Keegan might have a
bail hearing next month and that bothers her.
“I’m worried that he will come
after me next,” she said. “Bob thinks he’ll get away with murdering this young
man and he’ll be emboldened after this. I worry about what he might do to my
son. He’s that dangerous.”
Hoppins said she “grieves” over
Ellison’s death.
“He’s dead and my ex is responsible
for it,” she said. “I’m so sorry for his family and friends and I wish I could
do something for them. That young man didn’t deserve that. And his loved ones
don’t deserve this pain and suffering now. No one does. I want them to know
that they’re in my heart and prayers. I just wish I could do something for
them.”
She hopes Ellison’s loved ones
will find justice.
“I hope they lock up (Keegan) for
life,” she said. “I hope the investigation will reveal other things about him
and what he’s done. What he did to Aidan – that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
I’m certain of it. That’s why I’m hiding from him and his family.”
