Mr Keys worked for Sacramento-based TV station KTXL FOX 40 - owned by Tribune - as its web producer but his job was terminated in late October 2010, the indictment adds.
He needed 24-hour nursing assistance but otherwise led as normal a life as possible, taking the subway to work each day at his job as a systems analyst, using a mouthpiece to tap the keys on his computer, enjoying books, movies, TV and dinners with friends, most frequently with Abe.