In the spring of 2019, the life of 25-year-old Keyona Griffin, an African-American woman from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was tragically cut short in a harrowing double homicide that also claimed the life of her 47-year-old aunt, Cherletta Baber-Bey. On the morning of March 13, 2019, a fearful Keyona made a whispered call to 911, reporting that her aunt had been killed and that she was in imminent danger.
Despite her plea, when officers arrived at the Sheldon Avenue SE residence, they left after receiving no answer at the door and seeing no signs of forced entry.
A couple of hours later, Keyona's brother discovered her body and made a frantic 911 call. Police returned to the home to find a grim scene. Keyona Griffin had been shot four times, with one wound to her face. Her aunt, Cherletta Baber-Bey, was found in her own room, apparently shot in the back of the head while she was in bed listening to an iPad with her earbuds in. The gruesome discovery sent shockwaves through the community and left a family shattered by the violent loss of two of its members.
The investigation quickly centered on Derrell Demon Brown, Cherletta's 45-year-old boyfriend who had been living in the home with the two women. Keyona had previously expressed her discomfort with Brown's presence and had even considered moving out. Evidence found at the scene, including an empty gun box and ammunition, further implicated Brown. Despite being identified as the primary suspect and having a history of violence, Derrell Brown fled after the murders.
In the years following the killings, Brown has remained at large, eluding an extensive manhunt. Authorities believe he may be receiving assistance from friends or family in various states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. A significant reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest, but the man suspected of ending the lives of Keyona Griffin and Cherletta Baber-Bey has yet to be brought to justice. The case remains a painful and unresolved tragedy for the Griffin and Baber-Bey families.
