ST. LOUIS — An Arnold man was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for a 2017 murder in south St. Louis.
Khamkhay Samatmanivong, 58, was sentenced for the shooting death of Charles D. Keltz, 37, in the Carondelet neighborhood on Nov. 23, 2017.
In August, a jury convicted Samatmanivong of second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery and three counts of armed criminal action.
Keltz was fatally shot in the 7000 block of Minnesota Avenue; his body was found nearby in the 200 block of Quincy Street.
Prosecutors said Samatmanivong was angry with Keltz’s girlfriend, to whom he had given money. He drove to their apartment and called Durrell Anderson and Maurice Whitt to help him get his money back.
When Keltz came out of the apartment and told Samatmanivong the woman was not there, prosecutors said Whitt beat him up, chased and shot him.
After Whitt, who is still awaiting trial, found the woman hiding in a closet, prosecutors said he dragged her out of the apartment by her hair. Samatmanivong forced her into his car and told her she was going to be killed.
Speaking through an interpreter in court, Samatmanivong said he did not understand why he is being held responsible for Keltz’s death.
An appeal made by Samatmanivong was denied by Judge Timothy Boyer on Friday.
Anderson pleaded guilty in 2023 to second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and kidnapping and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Whitt is awaiting trial for several charges, including second-degree murder, kidnapping and armed criminal action.
