Boyfriend gets 45 years for beating husband to death in Savanna love triangle

GALENA – A 36-year-old Hanover man will be 81 years old before he his released from state prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to beating his girlfriend’s husband to death with his bare fists.

Keith Heidenreich, 46, of Freeport, died in the Hanover home that Levi “TJ” Meyers shared with Heidenreich’s wife, Danielle K. Heidenreich, 39, sometime between March 9 and 10, investigators said.

The pair then took his body to Miller’s Boat Landing, 6898 Marina Road, about 4 miles north of Savanna off state Route 84, and dumped it in the Mississippi River; it was found March 10.

Meyers was sentenced in Jo Daviess County court to 45 years for first-degree murder; four counts of first-degree murder, concealment of a homicidal death and aggravated battery charges were dismissed as part of his plea agreement, State’s Attorney, Chris Allendorf said in a news release.

Meyers must serve the entirety of the sentence, with no time off.

Danielle Heidenreich pleaded guilty June 10 to concealment of a homicidal death and was sentenced to 5 years; one count of obstructing justice was dismissed as part of her plea agreement.

All three are former Savanna residents.