Man will spend decades in prison for Columbus killing

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A 31-year-old man was sentenced on Wednesday for a murder in Columbus.

Platte County District Court Judge Rachel Daugherty sentenced Michael Keener to 85 years to life in prison.

Under state law, most sentences are cut in half, so he could be eligible for parole in 42½ years.

In January 2022, 77-year-old Larry Houdek was stabbed multiple times in his Columbus home, according to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.

Someone saw that Keener was injured and called police.

Keener told an officer that he had just killed someone and led police to Houdek’s body, authorities said.

Police found Keener with several of Houdek’s belongings.

Keener took a plea deal in February and was found guilty of second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.