Man Charged With Murder In Muskogee Hammer Death

Muskogee police have released new information in the brutal death of a man whose body was found Wednesday morning at an apartment complex. They've identified the victim as 56-year-old James Beard.

Beard was beaten to death with a hammer and his body left inside a closet that was nailed shut. Police also released the mug shot of his suspected killer, Jackie C. Keen, who was arrested at the scene.

Keen, 42, was charged with first-degree murder Friday.

Police say it happened at an apartment complex at Peak and Cherokee Streets. The two men were said to be friends involved with crystal meth.

10/28/2015 Related Story: Police: Man Found Hammered To Death Inside Muskogee Apartment

Their landlord told police he checked on the apartment because of ongoing problems with drug use. While he was there, Keen reportedly begged him not to open the closet which had been nailed shut.

Officers found Beard's body in the closet, partly covered with clothes and blankets.

In an affidavit of probable cause, police say Keen confessed to killing Beard. 

"Keen reported he cut the victim's wrists and possibly his neck with a box blade and hit the victim in the head with a hammer," the document states.