FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2024
Tadashi Demetrius Keyes Sentenced to Life
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Today, in Charlottesville Circuit Court, Judge H. Thomas Padrick, Jr. sentenced Tadashi Demetrius Keyes to life in prison for the first degree murder of Eldridge Smith. Keyes was also sentenced to three years in prison for the use of a firearm during the commission of a murder.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nina-Alice Antony who stated during the sentencing hearing, “this is a community and a Commonwealth Attorney’s Office that believes in second chances, and sometimes even third and fourth chances. After being given a life sentence for narcotics and violent firearms offenses in federal court, Mr. Keyes was granted early release and given a second chance. But he chose to take that second chance, and his freedom, and execute Eldridge Smith in cold blood. Because of that, there can and must be only one response, a sentence of life in prison.”
Media Contact:
Joe Platania
Commonwealth's Attorney
City of Charlottesville
434-970-3179
platania@charlottesville.gov