A man was found dead on Tuesday when his body was discovered inside a walk-in beer cooler at SunTrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. Todd Keeling, 48, died while installing his beer-tap invention, according to his family.
Keeling’s body was discovered Tuesday afternoon inside a walk-in beer cooler. The investigation is still unfolding, and it has not been determined whether there was foul play.
According to his family, Keeling was at SunTrust Park installing Draftwell, his invention that is designed to reduce pour times. His family said that the invention had been installed at other Major League Baseball ballparks, including the Chicago White Sox’s Guaranteed Rate Field and the Minnesota Twins’ Target Field. More from the Atlanta-Journal Constitution:
[Fran] Kuchta said her nephew was excited to learn that another MLB stadium wanted his beer tap technology, Draftwell, which was going to cut down pour times at SunTrust from a 14-second average to five seconds.
Kuchta said he had been working on the invention since he graduated college.
“This is his dream since he was a kid,” Kuchta said.
Federal patent records show he filed an application for his “system for reducing foam at tap” invention in 2014.
Both the Braves and Delaware North Sportservice, the concessionaire of SunTrust Park, issued statements in light of Keeling’s death.
“The Atlanta Braves are deeply saddened by the passing of Todd Keeling, We admired the passion he had for both his company and his product. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
“He was a kind friend who dedicated his life to elevating the draft beer experience,” Delaware North said in its statement. “We salute his passion and dedication to revolutionizing the beverage industry. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”