Can you please hurry?
On March 13, 2019, a terrified young woman picked up a phone and dialed 911 from inside a house on Sheldon Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her voice was barely audible — a whisper — but her words cut through with urgency: “He’s trying to kill me… he already killed my auntie… can you please hurry?” It was the last time anyone heard from Keyona Griffin.
This episode of Crime Clueless, titled “Can You Please Hurry?”, explores the tragic and infuriating story of a woman who did everything right — and still wasn’t saved. It’s a haunting reminder of how thin the line between life and death can be, and how justice can remain elusive long after the violence ends.
A Call for Help
Keyona, 25, lived with her aunt Cherletta Baber-Bey, 47, and Cherletta’s boyfriend Derrell Demon Brown. Their home on Sheldon Avenue was supposed to be a place of safety. That illusion was shattered the morning of March 13 when Brown, according to investigators, shot Cherletta execution-style in her bed, then turned the gun on Keyona.
But before she died, Keyona made a 911 call that should have changed the outcome of that day. She whispered for help, gave her address, and pleaded with the dispatcher. Police were dispatched — but when they knocked and received no answer, they left. Hours later, Keyona and Cherletta were found dead.
A Missed Opportunity
What makes this case especially tragic is how close Keyona came to surviving. She had enough time to call. She gave the exact address. But police, unaware of how serious the situation was, left without forcing entry. By the time they returned, the killer was gone — and both women were dead.
Cherletta had been shot once in the back of the head. Keyona had been shot four times. Investigators found the murder weapon in the home. All signs pointed to Derrell Brown. He disappeared within hours of the murders, and despite local and national efforts to find him, he remains a fugitive to this day.
Still on the Run
Derrell Demon Brown is now one of the U.S. Marshals’ 15 Most Wanted. Authorities believe he fled Michigan immediately after the murders and may be living under an alias in another state. He has a history of using fake names, and he avoids social media and traceable technology.
A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information that leads to his arrest. Brown is considered armed and dangerous.
More Than a Crime Story
This is more than a case of a man on the run. It’s a story about a failed system — about a woman who asked for help and wasn’t saved. It’s about family members left to mourn with no answers, no justice, and no closure.
The house where Keyona made that call — where she and her aunt died — burned down a year later in an unrelated fire that claimed two more family members. The lot is now empty. But the pain lingers.
Listen to the Episode
In “Can You Please Hurry?”, we walk through the full timeline of that day, explore who Derrell Brown is, and why he still hasn’t been caught. We listen to the 911 call, examine the investigation, and highlight the relentless efforts of family and law enforcement.
Keyona Griffin should be alive. She begged us to hurry. We didn’t.
🎧 Listen now on Vanished Voices — available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.
If you have any information about Derrell Demon Brown, contact the U.S. Marshals Service or call 1-877-WANTED-2.
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Resources:
Dayton Daily News. (2024, February 1). Brown’s possible sighting reported in Ohio. Dayton Daily News. https://www.daytondailynews.com
FOX 17 News. (2020, March). 911 transcript released from murder scene hours before bodies found. FOX 17 Online. https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/transcript-911-call-made-from-murder-scene-hours-before-bodies-found
FOX 17 News. (2020, July). Fatal fire at 553 Sheldon claims two more lives. FOX 17 Online. https://www.fox17online.com
Grand Rapids Police Department. (2019). 911 transcripts from March 13 double homicide.
Investigation Discovery. (n.d.). Michigan woman and niece found shot to death, boyfriend is the only suspect. CrimeFeed. https://www.investigationdiscovery.com
MLive. (2020, February). Police ‘beating themselves up’ after 911 caller found dead hours later. https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2020/02/police-beating-themselves-up-after-911-caller-found-dead-hours-later.html
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U.S. Marshals Service. (2023, January 31). Press release: Derrell Brown added to 15 Most Wanted list. The Federal Newswire. https://www.thefederalnewswire.com
WOOD TV8. (n.d.). “Please hurry”: Victim’s haunting 911 call released as feds hunt for a killer. https://www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/please-hurry-victims-haunting-911-call-released-as-feds-hunt-for-a-killer/
WOOD TV8. (n.d.). Double murder suspect had Jekyll-and-Hyde-like anger, says witness. https://www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/double-murder-suspect-had-jekyll-and-hyde-like-anger-says-witness/
Briefly.co.za. (n.d.). What happened to Keyona Griffin before her death? https://briefly.co.za/facts-lifehacks/celebrities-biographies/178709-what-happened-keyona-griffin-death/
Brandon’s Restaurant. (n.d.). Keyona Griffin memorial post. https://brandonsrestaurant.com/keyona-griffin/
U.S. Marshals Service. (n.d.). Submit a tip. https://www.usmarshals.gov/tips
Silent Observer. (n.d.). Report a tip anonymously. https://www.silentobserver.orgFacebook. (n.d.). Keyona Griffin remembrance and justice efforts. https://www.facebook.com