DES MOINES, Iowa — A jury has convicted a Des Moines man of murder in the January killing of his roommate.
51-year-old Surfun Boens was convicted of first-degree murder in connection to the death of 45-year-old Russell Allen McKeehan, Jr. The conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The conviction comes 10 months after police responded to Fleur Lodge near the Des Moines International Airport to find McKeehan, Jr. deceased in a hotel room with multiple gunshot wounds.
Police believed from the beginning that Boens shot and killed McKeehan, Jr. The two men had lived together in the hotel room where the victim was found.
Witnesses said Boens had admitted to doing "something really bad", and also heard gunshots coming from the room prior to McKeehan, Jr.'s death. In addition, Boens was seen leaving and returning to the room after McKeehan, Jr. was shot.
McKeehan, Jr.'s death was Des Moines' second homicide of 2023.