UNSOLVED HOMICIDE
Victims: James Anthony Irby Sr. and KeiAmber Matrice Beard
Date: September 19, 2013
Location: Peoria, Illinois
On September 19, 2013, at 3:11 a.m., police were called to the Peoria, Illinois home of 29-year-old James Anthony Irby, Sr. and 24-year-old KeiAmber Matrice Beard after receiving a report of a violent home invasion.
Police arrived at the home located at 1204 W. Margaret Avenue, about a block from the intersection of University Street and Forrest Hill Avenue in the central part of the city, and discovered both James and KeiAmber suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. They were both pronounced deceased just after 5:30 a.m. Two of James’s children from a previous relationship, as well as a dog, were also found inside the home, but were unharmed. KeiAmber’s family said the young nurse was approximately 8 to 9 weeks pregnant with her first child at the time of her murder.
It has been reported that multiple individuals may have had different roles in events surrounding the residence, including people who may have been outside while others entered the home. Some kind of physical confrontation may have occurred inside the residence before James and KeiAmber were fatally shot. These matters remain under independent review.
The circumstances have raised questions about whether robbery fully explains what happened that morning, particularly because the available materials do not identify anything that was reportedly taken from the residence.
Despite the passage of more than a decade, investigators have not made any arrests in the case or even identified a suspect. It has been theorized that James and KeiAmber may have possibly been targeted, leading investigators to believe they may have known their assailant or assailants. Police have said that one of the victims gave the name “Mike” before dying, possibly naming someone that may have been involved in the crime. That person has never been identified.
Anyone with information in this case, no matter how small, is asked to contact Sgt. Roberto Vasquez of the Peoria, Illinois Police Department at 309-494-8387 or 309-673-4521 or Greater Peoria Area CrimeStoppers at 309-673-9000 or 309-643-8477. A CrimeStoppers reward of $1,000 is available in this case.
