Man charged in barista death linked to 7 killings

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A man charged in the death of an Alaska barista has killed himself, and authorities say he was linked to at least seven other possible slayings in three other states, including New York.

Israel Keyes was found dead in his jail cell yesterday. U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler said at a news conference that Keyes killed himself.

Keyes was facing a March trial in federal court for the murder of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig, who was abducted from an Anchorage coffee kiosk last February. He was later arrested in Texas after using the victim's debit card.

Authorities say Keyes confessed to killing Bill and Lorraine Currier of Essex, Vt. The couple was reported missing in June 2011.

Authorities say Keyes also indicated he killed four others in Washington state and one person in New York state, but did not give the victims' names.

-- AP