My name is Keelin Darby. I am a police sergeant in the State of Alabama, and the wife of Huntsville Police Officer Ben Darby.
Officer Ben Darby responded to a suicide-by-cop scenario in 2018. After recognizing that his partners were not utilizing sound officer safety tactics by placing themselves in a potentially deadly situation without cover and concealment within a few feet of the armed subject, without their firearms drawn, Officer Darby placed himself in front of his partners and gave multiple warnings to the subject to put his gun down, which he was pointing at his head. After making a furtive movement with his head, shoulders, and firearm and after believing that his life and the lives of his partners were in imminent threat of great bodily harm or death, Officer Darby shot the subject, who was a known white supremacist. It was later discovered that the subject told his neighbor (a witness) that he intended on luring police officers into his home to kill them because he hated cops.
After an Incident Review Board was conducted by the Huntsville Police Department, the department found that Officer Darby’s actions were within policy and justified under the rule of law. The first two officers were sent back to the academy for remedial training and later resigned. Officer Darby returned to work, and within 2 months a secret grand jury was convened by the district attorney. Officer Darby was charged with murder. Officer Darby was given a plea deal consisting of probation and NO CUSTODY time if he accepted an aggravated manslaughter conviction, which he refused. The police chief, city council, and mayor of Huntsville supported Ben Darby and paid the initial legal fees.
During the trial, the judge prevented exculpatory evidence from being heard by the jury, including relevant testimony by the neighbor and others, as well as applicable case law that would have exonerated Officer Ben Darby (Graham v. Conner, Tennessee V. Garner, Montoute v. Carr, Garcynski v. Palm Beach Sheriff's Office). This trial was closed to the public—not open to family, friends, or me, due to Covid restrictions. He was denied qualified immunity and after multiple plea deals consisting of NO prison time, my husband went to trial. During the trial, the DA compared Officer Darby to a regular civilian who barged into a random person’s house, shooting, and killing them. Officer Ben Darby was sentenced to 25 years.
My husband now sits in an Alabama prison along with pedophiles, gang members, and career criminals. The National FOP wrote a brief and legal response to this case, along with Chief McMurray of the Huntsville Police Department. This catastrophic situation has devastated our family and left us in significant financial crisis as legal fees continue to mount while we continue our efforts to appeal his conviction in this ongoing legal battle to free my husband. Any help from our supporters as we share our fundraiser with our networks would be greatly appreciated as this miscarriage of justice continues each day that he spends behind bars.
Updates
MARCH 24, 2023
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has made a decision: REVERSAL AND REMAND!
What does this mean? The Court has issued Ben a reversal of his conviction and has granted a retrial in his case. The family is working closely with their legal team to see what the next steps are.
From Keelin Darby, "Ben and I are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support. Today's decision from the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals is welcome news for our family as well as all of the brave men and women who serve in uniform across the country. We look forward to Ben's release from prison in the coming days as we move forward with the next step in his legal battle."
Thank you for your continued support of the Darby family. Now that a new trial is ordered, please consider donating towards this cost. Thank you for your donations that have brought them this far! This fight is far from over!
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Below is a letter from Ben to you. I have also attached a copy of his physical letter. Thank you for your continued support.
We are still waiting on the Court of Criminal Appeals to issue a decision in our case. Unfortunately, there is no timeline or pressure on the justices to make a decision.
We are hopeful for an answer soon and will be sure to update you once we receive the decision. Until then, enjoy this letter from Ben!
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Dear Friend,
I hope you are well.
I call you friend instead of supporter because you have taken an active role in this fight by standing with me. Friend sounds more appropriate.
The circumstance being as hard as it is, many have asked how I am doing. How am I making it? The answer, I am persevering. But how?
When all this started, my friend and pastor, Shane Lewis, gave me some advice. He told me that the usual line is "remember who you are." Shane then gave me something that remains powerful. “Remember whose you are."
Whose am I? The answer to this question drives me. I belong to people and causes that are much bigger than me.
I belong to my wife. I belong to my parents, loved ones, and close friends. I belong to the Church. There are so many praying, supporting, and showing up for me and my family. I have preached to trust and persevere no matter the adversity. Now I am being tested. I am humbled by the support from the Church, and my faith continues to grow.
I belong to a larger community that values law, order, and justice. I had to privilege to serve this community. I took an oath to faithfully serve with courageous calm in the face of danger. And I did.
All of this is in the forefront of my mind every day. Those that I belong to have set the example for me. My commitment to prove worthy of their support, love, and respect is unwavering. Honor, integrity, and perseverance are demanded. I will not fail.
This situation affects a lot more than just my life. The community at large will suffer when it is common for police to be imprisoned for doing their job. I not only for for justice for me and my family, but for all the law enforcement and their families coming behind us. I will fight for the larger community that values law, order, and justice.
I am profoundly grateful for you. Thank you for standing with me. you make this fight possible with your generous donations. Every dollar donated goes toward legal fees. We are good stewards of your support, and it is not taken lightly.
Thank you again. And as Pastor Shane told me years ago..”Remember whose you are."
Take care,
Ben Darby
We had our Oral Arguments hearing on November 10th, and we believe it went well. All of the feedback we have received from those in attendance has been positive.
We are now waiting on the AL Criminal Appellate judges to publish their decision regarding our appeal. This decision could come at any moment, but there is no timeline or deadline the judges must meet to make their decision. We are hoping and praying that they publish their decision soon, but again, they will make it whenever they are ready.
We want to again say how thankful and grateful we are for the support we have received from everyone and the funds that continue to come in. The financial donations have greatly assisted Keelin pay for legal fees for Ben. We are blown away by the generosity we have received!
We just received news that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has granted oral arguments in Ben's case!Oral arguments allow for attorneys to discuss specific points of an appeal in more depth to the judges panel.Oral arguments are highly sought for in every appeals case, but only have a 2% likelihood of being granted due to the amount of cases that are appealed.
WE BEAT THE 2%!!!The Court specifically wants to discuss Ben's 6th Amendment Constitutional right violation of not having a public trial and the basis of Graham v. Connor and the objective reasonableness standard. If we all remember, the public was not allowed to hear all of the trial because the judge would turn off the video feed without warning or cause throughout the proceedings.The judge also erred by not properly instructing the jury of the USSC case of Graham v. Connor. Specifically, the reasonableness of an [officer’s] actions in using deadly force may be objectively reasonable judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, the fact that officers are forced to make split second decisions, [and] in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them at the time.November 10, 2022 cannot get here fast enough! Thank you all for your continued support! This is one step closer in vindicating Ben and restoring his freedom! 
I want to thank everyone for continuing to support us as we fight for Ben's freedom. This past weekend marked his first year being held in custody in an Alabama prison. Ben wrote a letter for his supporters that I have included pictures of below.
We are still waiting on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to make a decision on his case. Again, they do not have a timeline or a deadline to make this decision. We continue to pray that today would be that day, or a day in the near future would conclude with a decision to reverse his conviction. Until then, we will continue to fight for Ben's freedom and pray for a decision to be made.
Thank you again for the support and God bless!
Donations & Comments
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Reply from Keelin Darby4 months agoThank you so much for your generous donation, prayers, and support! It is greatly appreciated!
Reply from Keelin Darby4 months agoThank you for your donation! It is greatly appreciated!
@clearedhot fan just trying to back the blue with more than a sticker. This fight is about more than Ben’s case, it’s about preserving law and order which is the backbone of our nation. Keep fighting!
Reply from Keelin Darby4 months agoYou are correct in this is more than a fight for Ben. It's a fight for law enforcement nationwide. Thank you for your donation. It is much appreciated!
Thank You & GOD Bless You !
Reply from Keelin Darby2 months agoThank you for your support!
Hope that this will help in getting Ben home. You have both been in my prayers since this all started. My hope is that you can get this behind you and go on with your lives.
Reply from Keelin Darby2 months agoThank you for your co to use prayer and support! We greatly appreciate it!
Reply from Keelin Darby2 months agoThank you for your generous donation!
3/24/23: Glad to see the court recognized the errors and remanded for a new trial. Hopefully, a motion for a new judge will be granted and that a bond hearing will allow Ben to get out in the meantime. He should not be incarcerated awaiting trial. And, hopefully he will be acquitted. "In the Spirit of Coler and Williams" Ed W.
Reply from Keelin Darby2 months agoThank you so much for your support and donation! We are looking forward to the coming weeks are are overjoyed with the recent decision!
Praying for you and your husband.
Reply from Keelin Darby2 months agoThank you for your prayers and financial support.
Reply from Keelin Darby2 months agoThank you for your financial support!
Hello Keelin, i just saw your interview with Mike Glover and it's an absolute disgrace what they did to your husband. I hope my donation helps with regaining his freedom one day. I hope yall decide to file a lawsuit against the judge for violating Ben's constitutional rights.
Reply from Keelin Darby2 months agoThank you so much for your support!
Reply from Keelin Darby2 months agoThank you for your donation!
Reply from Keelin Darby2 months agoThank you for your support!
We all must stand to right this injustice.
Reply from Keelin Darby2 months agoThank you for your donation and your support! We appreciate it!
My prayers are with Officer Darby and his family. His wife did an amazing job sharing the apparent injustice that has been done to Officer Darby via our court systems. Her intelligence, strength, determination, and faith she exhibited in her interview on the Cleared Hot Podcast, is a testament to a true partnership in marriage. I pray your faith and love for one another will keep you both strong through this battle.