Featured Post

PINNED POST. CLICK HERE: Keeping these 3 videos of officer-involved domestic violence fatalities on top. Blog best navigated from computer.

Officer-Involved Domestic Fatalities - 1 Officer-Involved Domestic Fatalities - 2 [WA] Tragedy Will Occur If They Don't Have ...

Custom Search

Thursday, May 23, 2019

[AL] Stephanie Keller charged with murder of her cop husband, VHPD Officer Kimbrel.

Stephanie Nicole Keller has been charged with the murder of her husband, Vestavia Hills Alabama Police Officer Andrew "Andy" Wade Kimbrel. Gardendale Police Chief Mike Walker said that Thursday night, a 911 call was received and police were on the scene within 5 minutes. Stephanie also called 911 to report the shooting.

...“The incident was domestic in nature,” Gardendale Police Chief Mike Walker said... Some are alleging that Kimbrel had previously “hit her”...

Andrew "Andy" Wade Kimbrel
March 29, 1977 – May 3, 2019

...Andy Kimbrel had been trained in Advanced Rapid Response to Terrorism/Active Shooter incidents, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Crisis/Hostage Negotiations, a Certified Crime Scene investigator and studied Incident Response to Terrorist Bombing...

VESTAVIA HILLS POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN DOMESTIC INCIDENT THURSDAY NIGHT; WIFE CHARGED
May 3, 2019
[Excerpts] Police have charged the wife of a Vestavia Hills police officer in his shooting death... Gardendale Police Chief Mike Walker gave few details. Vestavia Hills later identified the officer as Andrew Wade Kimbrel, 42. He went by Andy. He left behind two children...Stephanie Nicole Keller, 43, was charged Friday with murder... Before coming to Vestavia Hills, Kimbrel worked at the Fairfield Police Department. "Andy was loved by his fellow officers and the community which he chose to protect. The Vestavia Hills Police Department extends our gratitude to the community for their outpouring of support during this difficult time," Capt. Johnny Evans said... This is the second Vestavia Hills police officer to die in the past two years. In November 2017, a Vestavia Hills officer died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head while on-duty. That officer was Robert “Bobby” Hancock... Kimbrel was shot and taken to UAB Hospital where he died early this morning... “The incident was domestic in nature,” Walker said... [Full article here]


ANDY KIMBREL: ALABAMA POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN DOMESTIC INCIDENT
May 3, 2019
[Excerpts] An Alabama police officer was shot and killed in his home in what investigators said was a domestic incident. Andrew Wade ‘Andy’ Kimbrel, 42, has been a police officer for nearly two decades. Gardendale police found the officer suffering from a gunshot wound when they arrived at his apartment in response to a 911 call just before 11 p.m. Thursday. He was rushed to a local emergency room but died not long after... Gardendale Police Chief Mike Walker said that at 10:57 p.m. Thursday night, a 911 call was received and police were on the scene within 5 minutes. They responded to a home at the Woodbrook Apartments complex and there discovered a 42-year old white male with a gunshot wound. He was transported to the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital’s emergency room. In the early hours of Friday morning, he was pronounced dead... On a police Facebook page, Kimbrel’s mother said the nature of the domestic doesn’t matter. “I am his mother,” wrote Renda Otis Kimbrel. “It doesn’t matter what type of domestic. My son is dead and that is all that matters.” Kimbrel, a Crisis & Hostage Negotiator, Among Myriad Other Law Enforcement Specialized Training, Had Been a Police Officer Since 2001. According to his LinkedIn, Kimbrel had been with the Vestavia Hills Police Department since 2002. Previously he’d been an officer with the Fairfield Police Department and the Blocton Police Department as a reserve officer. Kimbrel had been trained in Advanced Rapid Response to Terrorism/Active Shooter incidents, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Crisis/Hostage Negotiations, a Certified Crime Scene investigator and studied Incident Response to Terrorist Bombing. He was a Fire Investigator and graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy in Tuscaloosa in 2001... [Full article here]


STEPHANIE NICOLE KELLER: 5 FAST FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW
May 6, 2019
[Excerpts] Police in Gardendale, Alabama have charged Stephanie Nicole Keller with the murder of her husband, [Vestavia Hills] police officer Andy Kimbrel... At a press conference Friday morning, Gardendale Police Chief Mike Walker said that at 10:57 p.m. Thursday night, a 911 call was received and police were on the scene within 5 minutes... In the early hours of Friday morning, he was pronounced dead... Keller had posted recently that she was prepared for a court battle, though it’s not clear to what she was referring. The couple had not posted images of each other on their respective Facebook pages lately though did in 2018... Keller’s Facebook page was temporarily shuttered. Kimbrel’s remains up for now. People have begun posting on Keller’s page. Vata Woods wrote, "Stephanie, don’t know what happened but l love you and praying for you"... Meanwhile, as Keller is being held on $100,000 bail and charged with murder, a number of people are coming to her defense and some have claimed that in the mugshot, she appears to have an injury to her mouth. Some are alleging that Kimbrel had previously “hit her.” In particular, a post from local media, includes many comments suggesting she was a victim of domestic violence. Charity Spearman wrote, “Prayers and Justice for Stephanie. There are two sides to every story and the media is definitely not getting her side. If he wasn’t a cop, she would have been put on a pedestal and most of y’all would have been singing her praises for defending herself against a wife beater. But he was a cop so… I just hope and pray the justice system ignores his career choice and looks into the facts. From a personal standpoint of the families, I’m on HER side.” Keller’s cousin Tammy Diveto posted this on Facebook. “For me….for now..I am going to believe that she had just cause, for her actions. SOME people who wear a uniform, will hide behind it. I am not speculating on anything. We don’t know, I do not know…. Until we do, she and her sweet boys will be in my prayers. *Prayers for Stephanie Keller. I mean NO disrespect for our men in blue as a whole.” [Full article here]

FUNERAL SET FOR VESTAVIA HILLS POLICE OFFICER SLAIN IN DOMESTIC DISPUTE
May 6, 2019
A Vestavia Hills police officer will be laid to rest Thursday, a week after he was shot to death in his Gardendale apartment. Andrew Wade “Andy” Kimbrel, 42, died early Friday... Authorities have not released any details about what led up to the deadly shooting, except to say it happened during an argument. Keller called 911 to report the shooting... Visitation for Kimbrel will be held on Wednesday, May 8, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Southern Heritage Funeral Home on Cahaba Valley Road in Pelham. The funeral will be held Thursday, May 9, at Mountain Top Community Church on Centerview Drive in Vestavia Hills. There will be a police procession from Mountain Top back to Southern Heritage Thursday for a brief graveside service. Kimbrel’s family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Vestavia Hills Police Foundation in his memory. [Full article here]

VHPD statement:
“On May 3, 2019 the Vestavia Hills Police Department lost one of our own. ANDREW WADE KIMBREL, 42 of Gardendale, Alabama lost his life during a domestic incident at his residence. ANDY has served the City of Vestavia Hills since October of 2002 and he previously served with the Fairfield Police Department. During his service with Vestavia Hills Police Department Andy served as a patrol officer, school resource officer and evidence technician. ANDY was loved by his fellow officers and the community in which he chose to protect. The Vestavia Police Department extends our gratitude to the community for their outpouring of support during this difficult time. We would also like to extend our appreciation to the Gardendale Police Department for their professional courtesy. We extend our deepest sympathies to Andy’s family and friends. Funeral arrangements are still pending.”
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety lethal fatality fatalities murder state politics female perp self-defense alabama]

4 comments:

  1. Internet comments -

    - Stephanie, don't know what happened but l love you and praying for you...????????????

    - What we DO know is Stephanie! and there is more to this than the police and media will tell. I do not believe for one second that she just up and did this. He was probably hitting her AGAIN. It’s obvious from the news reports that the police will hold onto that blue brotherhood and will sing his praises even if they are wrong. Prayer is all we can do now, & somehow let her know she is loved.

    - my heart is broken she is such a sweet person, can't believe other than self defense.. prayers going up for her.. do you know if she is out on bond..

    - Ronda he did drugs to.

    - She was happily posting on Facebook minutes before the time period they say it happened, that made me wonder if she had to defend herself because she clearly wasn't angry or planning something. Praying for her and the kids.

    - Ok. From reading different articles and looking at her mugshot, seems like he was beating on her and she got tired. Her lip is busted( not saying he did it but...) and her eyes are slightly swollen. I'm just saying. I am not an investigator or a lawyer. Just going on what I read and what I saw. I am not saying that my deduction is accurate. Time and the word of the courts will reveal the nature and circumstances of this case. A life was lost and that's sad in any case.

    LINKS

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=781767478829375&set=a.155250484814414

    https://www.facebook.com/curtis.j.gatewood/posts/10157332674404533

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deputies are often prejudiced toward men in domestic abuse situations. There was a witness to a husband placing the wife in a choke hold refusing to let her go. The wife did not provoke or deserve the abuse. The witness tried to intervene without success and subsequently called the authorities. Upon arrival the officer was sarcastic and decided not to arrest the man because of "medical issues." The so called medical issues were exaggerated and the alleged "heart surgery" was more than 2 decades in the past. The wife underwent surgery for throat injuries and still has difficulty as a result of the choking and being hit in the head with fists. She was chased pulled down causing fractured ribs a facial injury from being punched requiring surgery yet the officers continue to berate her. Telling her the value of the house she lives in and falsely stating she is not married to her abuser. Officers have no business gossiping and spreading false information. She was punished for not leaving after the first time he hit her. Shame on all officers involved. They have caused irreparable harm but I seriously doubt they care one bit.

      Delete
    2. I doubt it will be published. there is too much truth that can be proven showing prejudice

      Delete
  2. She herself told police that Andy had never gotten physical with her and as a matter of fact the only argument that was mentioned to where it had gotten physical, was where SHE grabbed Andy by the throat and shoved him into the wall...So before you drag someone's name through the mud, someone who is no longer here to defend themself as well, you might want to make sure you know the facts. I knew Andy growing up and also spoke with him a few tumes in passing when I lived in Vestavia, and I always knew him to be a great guy...a very kind and gentle soul type person...I don't know Stephanie,and I hate that she took the life of my old friend from school...but because I don't know her I can't say anything bad about her and her reasoning for firing that gun. I do know that according to her own words, she said it wasnt in self defense and that Andy had never gotten physical with her during a fight. I do think it shows a positive character in Stephanie by her being honest with police during her interrogations, where she could have lied and said he did beat her to help herself out or that she shot in self defense...also she could have denied the time where SHE had gotten physical with him during a fight but she didn't and even though it made her be shown in a worse light, she was still honest. I believe if she was this horrible stone cold killer, she would have had no problem at all saying whatever she could to make herself look better and Andy like like of the victim he is... So I believe this was just a horrible accident and she never meant to hurt much less than kill Andy. I wasn't there, just like everyone of you that is trying to make Andy look bad or into a person he wasn't in order to do for Stephanie, what she was a good enough person to not do for herself.

    ReplyDelete

Please post updates or email them to behindthebluewall@gmail.com. No cop-hating or victim-hating comments allowed. Word verification had to be added due to spam attacks on this blog.