Who Was Keyona Griffin? The Tragic Story Behind Her 911 Call

Keyona Griffin was a 25-year-old woman whose death became part of a widely reported double-murder case in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On March 13, 2019, Griffin called 911 from a home on Sheldon Avenue and told a dispatcher that someone was trying to kill her. Later that day, police found Griffin and her aunt, Cherletta Baber-Bey, dead inside the home. Both deaths were ruled homicides caused by gunshot wounds. The case drew national attention because Griffin had asked authorities for help shortly before she was killed and because the man charged with both murders has remained a fugitive.

Personal Details

Keyona Griffin’s Early Life

Reliable public information about Keyona Griffin’s early years is limited. Records and news coverage connected to the case establish that she was 25 when she died on March 13, 2019. However, major reporting about Griffin has focused on the circumstances of her death rather than her childhood, schooling, or early ambitions. This makes it difficult to provide a detailed biography without relying on poorly sourced claims. What is clear is that Griffin was a young woman whose life ended suddenly in Grand Rapids. Her name later became closely connected with the 911 call she made during the frightening events inside the Sheldon Avenue home.

Keyona Griffin’s Family

Keyona Griffin’s family became an important part of the story surrounding the investigation. Her aunt, Cherletta Baber-Bey, was also killed in the same home. Griffin and Baber-Bey were 25 and 47 years old respectively when they died. A second 911 call made later that day came from a man who identified himself as the brother of one of the victims. He reported finding his sister unresponsive and seeing blood inside the house. Beyond information directly connected to the homicide investigation, reliable sources provide few details about Griffin’s wider family background. For that reason, claims about her parents and other relatives should be treated carefully.

Keyona Griffin and Cherletta Baber-Bey

Cherletta Baber-Bey was Keyona Griffin’s aunt and the other victim in the March 2019 double homicide. She was 47 years old at the time of her death. Authorities said Baber-Bey was dating Derrell Demon Brown, who lived at the Sheldon Avenue home. Brown later became the main suspect and was eventually charged with two counts of open murder. The U.S. Marshals Service now describes the victims as Brown’s girlfriend and her niece. Their deaths have remained closely linked because both women were found in the same home on the same day. Their case continues because Brown has not been brought to justice.

What Happened to Keyona Griffin?

On March 13, 2019, events inside a home at 553 Sheldon Avenue SE in Grand Rapids ended with two women dead. At 10:29 a.m., a woman identifying herself as Keyona called 911 and urgently asked for police assistance. The transcript shows that she said someone was trying to kill her. Hours later, another emergency call came from the home. Police then entered and discovered Keyona Griffin and Cherletta Baber-Bey dead. Investigators determined that both women had died from gunshot wounds and classified their deaths as homicides. The search soon focused on Derrell Brown, who had lived at the home and dated Baber-Bey.

Keyona Griffin’s 911 Call

The 911 call is one of the most important parts of Keyona Griffin’s case. According to a transcript released by Grand Rapids police, the first call came at 10:29 a.m. Griffin told the dispatcher that someone was trying to kill her and repeatedly asked for officers to hurry. She also indicated that another person had already been killed, although part of that statement was unclear in the transcript. Before the call ended, she identified herself as Keyona. The dispatcher told her that police were being sent. The recording later attracted attention because it captured Griffin seeking help shortly before authorities found her dead.

The Police Response

Police responded to the address after Keyona’s first 911 call, but the officers did not discover the victims during that initial visit. Reporting about the case says officers checked the property and attempted to make contact at the home. They did not enter at that time. Around 1 p.m., another person called 911 and reported blood inside the house and an unresponsive woman. Officers returned, entered the home, and found Griffin and Baber-Bey dead. The circumstances surrounding the first response later received public attention because Griffin had clearly expressed fear for her life during the call. The released transcript became an important record of that timeline.

Keyona Griffin’s Death

Keyona Griffin died on March 13, 2019, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was 25 years old. Police found her body inside the Sheldon Avenue residence along with the body of her 47-year-old aunt, Cherletta Baber-Bey. Grand Rapids police confirmed the following day that both deaths had been ruled homicides caused by gunshot wounds. The U.S. Marshals Service later reported that both women had been shot multiple times. Griffin’s death received wider attention because of the emergency call she made before her body was discovered. Her death and that of her aunt remain at the center of the criminal case against fugitive Derrell Brown.

Who Was Cherletta Baber-Bey?

Cherletta Baber-Bey was Keyona Griffin’s 47-year-old aunt. She lived at the Grand Rapids home where both women were killed. Authorities have identified Derrell Demon Brown as Baber-Bey’s boyfriend, and police reported that Brown lived at the same residence. Baber-Bey and Griffin were found dead there on March 13, 2019. Both had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Although much of the media coverage has focused on Brown and Griffin’s emergency call, Baber-Bey was also a central victim in the case. The U.S. Marshals Service describes the investigation as a double murder involving Brown’s girlfriend and her niece, emphasizing that authorities continue seeking justice for both women.

Who Is Derrell Demon Brown?

Derrell Demon Brown is the fugitive wanted in connection with the murders of Keyona Griffin and Cherletta Baber-Bey. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Brown was born on February 3, 1974. Authorities say he was Baber-Bey’s boyfriend and lived at the Grand Rapids home connected to the murders. He was initially publicly described as a person of interest, but prosecutors later issued warrants charging him with two counts of open murder. The U.S. Marshals Service lists Brown as wanted for double murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Authorities warn that he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Why Is Derrell Brown Wanted?

Derrell Brown is wanted because authorities accuse him of killing Keyona Griffin and Cherletta Baber-Bey. In 2020, Kent County prosecutors charged Brown with two counts of open murder, moving the case beyond his earlier status as a person of interest. Silent Observer currently says Brown is wanted by the Grand Rapids Police Department for two counts of murder and receiving and concealing a stolen firearm. The U.S. Marshals Service also lists him as wanted for double murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. These are allegations, and Brown has not been tried or convicted in this case because authorities have not arrested him.

Evidence in the Murder Case

Authorities say evidence collected during the investigation connected Derrell Brown to the case. Silent Observer reports that investigators found the alleged murder weapon, which was a stolen firearm, during their search of the residence. The organization states that additional evidence later identified Brown as the prime suspect. Brown’s connection to the home was also important because authorities said he lived there and was in a relationship with Cherletta Baber-Bey. Prosecutors eventually issued warrants charging him with two counts of open murder. Since Brown remains a fugitive, however, the evidence has not been tested through a completed criminal trial, and the charges against him remain allegations.

The Search for Derrell Brown

The search for Derrell Brown expanded far beyond Grand Rapids after investigators were unable to locate him. Authorities believe he left Michigan soon after the killings. The U.S. Marshals Service placed Brown on its 15 Most Wanted list and offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading directly to his arrest. Investigators also believe that other people may have helped him avoid capture. Silent Observer notes that Brown has relatives in several states, including Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, and Ohio. Authorities continue to ask anyone who knows his location to provide information rather than approaching him, because he is considered armed and dangerous.

Was Derrell Brown Ever Found?

As of the latest available official information, Derrell Demon Brown remains wanted. The U.S. Marshals Service still maintains an active fugitive page for him and lists him among its 15 Most Wanted fugitives. Silent Observer also continues to list Brown as wanted by the Grand Rapids Police Department. Authorities believe he fled Michigan following the March 2019 murders and may have received help while avoiding law enforcement. Despite years of searching and national attention surrounding the case, there is no official report confirming his arrest. Anyone who encounters Brown is advised not to approach him because the U.S. Marshals Service considers him armed and dangerous.

Where Is the Case Now?

The case remains unresolved in the most important sense: the man charged with the killings has not been brought before a court. Derrell Brown remains wanted for the deaths of Keyona Griffin and Cherletta Baber-Bey. The U.S. Marshals Service continues to publish his fugitive information and offers a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading directly to his arrest. Silent Observer also maintains an active wanted notice. Because Brown has not been captured, there has been no trial deciding his guilt or innocence. The investigation therefore remains an active search for a fugitive accused of a double homicide committed more than seven years ago.

Keyona Griffin’s Legacy

Keyona Griffin is remembered largely because of the desperate effort she made to seek help during her final hours. Her 911 call became a major part of public discussion surrounding the case. The transcript preserves her repeated requests for officers to hurry and shows that she understood she was in serious danger. Her story has continued to receive attention through news reports and coverage of the search for Derrell Brown. Yet Griffin should also be remembered as a person whose life was taken at only 25 years old. Her aunt, Cherletta Baber-Bey, was also a victim, and both women remain at the heart of the continuing search for justice.

Final Thoughts

The deaths of Keyona Griffin and Cherletta Baber-Bey remain a troubling Grand Rapids murder case. Griffin called 911 on March 13, 2019, asking for urgent help, but she and her aunt were later found dead from gunshot wounds. Derrell Demon Brown, Baber-Bey’s boyfriend, was eventually charged with two counts of open murder and remains wanted by authorities. The U.S. Marshals Service considers him armed and dangerous and continues to offer a reward for information leading to his arrest. Until Brown is located and the charges are addressed in court, the case remains unfinished for investigators and for the families of both victims.