Nearly seven years after Keenan Blair, 20, was beaten to death in Paia, Maui prosecutors say they may finally know why. William Douglas Allen, 45, has been held at Maui Community Correctional Center all that time awaiting trial for Blair's murder, and newly surfaced police reports now point to a grudge between the two men as a possible motive.
According to Hawaii News Now, court documents say police reports only recently sent to the prosecutor's office show Allen had a grudge against Blair. Six months before Blair's death, Allen allegedly told police that Blair and his friends stole his cell phone and “tried to mob him,” the station reports. On the day Blair died, a witness said Allen appeared to be in a “bad” mood and repeatedly said he wanted to kill someone.
A Body Found Near Baldwin Avenue
Blair's body was discovered at about 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2020, in the area of Holomua Road and Baldwin Avenue in Paia, according to the Maui News. Police alleged Allen forced Blair into a vehicle and used a large stick to hit him until he stopped moving, then covered his body with brush, the paper reported at the time. Blair and Allen knew each other, and an off-duty Maui police sergeant spotted Allen in a Paia parking lot about 6 p.m. that Saturday, leading to his arrest, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Maui police arrested Allen, whom they identified as Blair's acquaintance, and prosecutors indicted him on charges of murder, arson and kidnapping, the station's earlier report noted. He was arraigned on second-degree murder, kidnapping and first-degree arson charges and pleaded not guilty, per the Maui News.
Allen Says He Is Innocent, Describes Years Behind Bars
Allen has continued to maintain his innocence through nearly seven years in custody. “It's stressful in here,” he said, according to the Hawaii News Now report. “It sucks being accused of a crime that you didn't do.”
Allen's new attorney, Steven Slavitt, was granted more time to prepare the case and file motions, the station's report notes. Maui Judge Peter Cahill said Slavitt needed time to get up to speed on the case. Allen also asked Cahill about a news story that aired in August, and the judge told him, “But you on the news is not evidence in the court. You're going to be tried with evidence,” per the same account.
Conflicting Reports On Trial Timing
Exactly when Allen will face trial remains unclear. The October report states that Allen's trial is scheduled for March, while an earlier Hawaii News Now report from August said his next court date was scheduled for October and that his trial was scheduled for November. As of this report, Allen remains in custody at Maui Community Correctional Center, where he has now spent nearly seven years awaiting trial for Blair's murder.
