Beverly Man Indicted For Connection To 2012 Murder: Report

Story by Dan Libon, Patch Staff

BILLERICA, MA – A Beverly man and two Lynn residents were indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury for their connection to an alleged 2012 home invasion and murder.

Sophan Keo, 29, of Beverly; Gabriel Arias, 24, of Lynn; and Steven Touch, 28, of Lynn, all faces charges of first degree murder, home invasion, attempting to commit armed robbery, and two counts of conspiracy, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney's office.

Keo was arraigned on Friday in Middlesex Superior Court and was ordered held without bail. Gabriel Arias is scheduled to be arraigned June 20, in Middlesex Superior Court. Police are actively seeking the third defendant, Steven Touch, an alleged leader of the Young Bloods, a violent street gang operating in and around Lynn. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading his arrest. Touch is considered extremely dangerous and members of the public should not attempt to approach him.

On July 7, 2012, at approximately 3:50 a.m., four men made their way into 795 Boston Rd. in Billerica, forcing the door from its hinges. Some of the men wore masks, and at least three of them were armed with handguns, the DA's office said.

They confronted two occupants of the house, who resisted them and tried to force the men back out the door of the home, one of the home invaders fatally shot one of the occupants, Quintin Koehler. The home invaders then fled without successfully carrying out their robbery plan.

Two additional men, Peter Bin and Jason Estabrook, were previously convicted of murder and related offenses in connection with the incident and a third, Adam Bradley, awaits trial in connection with the alleged murder and related offenses.

An arrest warrant was issued for Touch on Jan. 10, 2017 by the Middlesex Superior Court after he failed to appear in court for charges of possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of firearm without a license, possession of a large capacity feeding device, carrying a loaded firearm;,and defacing a serial number on a firearm. On May 22, 2017, another arrest warrant was issued for him by the U.S. District Court in Boston for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Touch is considered armed and dangerous.

Touch is a 28-year-old Cambodian male who is a legal U.S. citizen, with black hair, brown eyes and a goatee. He is 5’7” in height and weighs approximately 220 pounds. He last resided at 108 Empire Street, Lynn, MA.

Touch has six tattoos; the word “Blood” on his right upper arm, the word “Mayhem” on his right neck, a baby footprint on his right neck, the letter “Y” with the word “Young” underneath his right inner forearm, the letter “B” with the word “Blood” underneath, on his left forearm, and the word “Touch” on his left hand.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should call the FBI Boston Division’s North Shore Gang Task Force at 1-857-386-2000. Tips can also be electronically submitted at tips.fbi.gov.

Information in this article was provided by the Middlesex County District Attorney's office.

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