Convict’s DNA is found on bullet at Kansas City homicide scene

In May, Teresa Kellough invited Nathaniel E. Brown into her Kansas City home to tour the remodeled house where Brown once had lived.

Four months later, after someone shot Kellough, 49, to death inside that house, evidence found at the scene included an unspent bullet — a bullet that federal prosecutors say has been linked to Brown by DNA testing.

Kellough’s killing remains under investigation, police said Thursday.

But on Wednesday, federal prosecutors charged the 29-year-old Brown, a paroled armed robber, with being a felon in possession of ammunition.

Kellough, a single mother with a college-aged son, worked as a dog groomer at Pete and Mac’s Pet Resort in Lenexa.

She also belonged to a group, Emerald City KC, that is dedicated to revitalizing the city’s urban neighborhoods. She had bought the house in the 4200 block of Forest Avenue in July 2013.

Her father, Gene Kellough, said Thursday it was “mind-boggling” that someone had wanted to hurt her.

“She was a very caring person,” he said. “She would give anything to anybody if they needed it.”

On Sept. 23, a friend worried about being unable to reach Teresa Kellough by phone went to the house and discovered an open window with the screen removed, according to the federal court documents.

The friend and a neighbor with a key to the house went inside and discovered Kellough’s body.

Investigators recovered five spent bullets and four 9 mm shell casings at the scene, along with the live 9 mm round. On Oct. 15, analysts at the Kansas City Crime Lab matched DNA on the live bullet with Brown’s DNA in a national database, according to the documents.

Detectives began investigating Brown’s background and found that he had been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of first-degree robbery in Jackson County in 2006.

Shortly before his parole in October 2012, Brown obtained a Missouri identification card that listed Kellough’s address as his home address.

Additional investigation determined that Brown’s mother previously had owned the house, the court records show.

After Brown violated conditions of his parole, he was sent back to prison in February 2013. He was released again in April of this year.

Checking Kellough’s cellphone records after she was killed, detectives discovered calls and text messages between her and Brown that began shortly after his release. One message to Kellough thanked her for a tour of the house. A contact on her phone listed “Nate Brown used to live at 42.. Forest,” according to the documents.

On Monday, police took Brown into custody as part of the investigation. According to the court documents, he initially refused to talk to detectives but later changed his mind.

He told police that in May, he “and others” talked to Kellough at her home and she gave them a tour of the remodeled house. She served him tea during the tour, he said.

Brown told detectives that he had not been inside the house since that tour. He also denied handling any firearms or ammunition. The glass he was served tea in was the only thing in the house that his DNA would be on, he told police.

As a convicted felon, Brown cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Conviction on the federal charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

He made his initial appearance Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City. Prosecutors are seeking to have him held without bond while the case is pending. A detention hearing is scheduled for Friday afternoon, according to court records.

Though encouraged by the news of the charge against Brown, Gene Kellough said he still hopes to see someone held accountable in his daughter’s killing.

“I just want whoever did it charged,” he said.