SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Cold Case Homicide Resolved After Woman is Arrested for the 1995 Murder of Her Husband

Sheriff Hall is pleased to announce the resolution of a cold case homicide that occurred 13 years ago in Santa Rosa County, FL. On May 07, 2008, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Kimberly Cannon for the charge of murder. Cannon is accused of killing her husband, Darren Kelley, who disappeared in 1995. A Missing Person report was not filed until 1998 making it even more difficult in going back and locating information pertaining to his disappearance. The investigation revealed that Daren Kelley disappeared between the last weekend of May of 1995/early June of 1995. He was 23 years old at the time of his disappearance and residing in a double wide mobile home located on almost 14 acres in Santa Rosa County with his wife, Kimberly Mary Cannon. They owned and operated a business called K & K Lawn, Housekeeping & Carpet Care. Daren Kelley entered into a relationship with Kimberly Cannon in 1994, shortly after he moved to Santa Rosa County in 1993. At that time, Cannon was still legally married to her second husband. Kimberly Cannon has been married five times and is still married to her current husband.

Daren Kelley and Kimberly Cannon were married on the 14 acres they resided at on May 21, 1995 . Daren Kelley's mother traveled from Germany to attend the ceremony. On May 27, 1995 Daren Kelley and Kimberly Cannon traveled to Panama City , FL to visit his mother before she left to go back to Germany . This was the last time his mother physically saw her son alive.

During the course of the investigation over the past ten years, numerous searches were executed at the property that used to belong to the couple. During the last property search conducted January 11 th , 12 th & 13 th , 2008, a human bone, identified as the human fibula bone, was located. The bone was sent to Baylor University for analysis due to its condition. Baylor University concluded that the bone shares the same DNA as the victim's mother and brother.

Based on the results of the investigation, Sheriff's Investigators were able to establish probable cause that Kimberly Mary Cannon killed her husband, Daren Kelley, and disposed of his body on the 14 acres they resided on at the time of his death.

Once the warrant was issued on 5/07/08 , Investigators traveled to Leon County, FL, which is where Cannon currently resides. They then met with Leon County Sheriff's Deputies who greatly assisted with the apprehension of Cannon. When Leon County Deputies took Cannon into custody, she attempted to escape. Cannon managed to slip off her handcuffs on the way to the Leon County Jail. When the deputy opened the door to the patrol vehicle, Cannon fought with the deputy and tried to run away. Cannon also tried to disarm the deputy by attempting to remove his firearm from his holster. Cannon was then tased by the deputy and taken back into custody.

Cannon is currently being held in the Leon County Jail on their charges of Escape, Battery on a Law Enforcement Office, and Resisting Arrest with Violence. There is a hold placed on Cannon for the murder charge out of Santa Rosa County . A mug shot of Cannon is attached to this press release, as well as a photograph of Kelley that was taken shortly before his disappearance in 1995.

Sheriff Hall would like to thank the following agencies and individuals:

1. The victim's mother for her patience.

2. Dr. Jane Curtain & Dr. Kate Spradley and the students from the Department of Anthropology with UWF for their assistance in searching and digging during the property search in January of 2008.

3. The Louisiana Search & Rescue Dog Teams for assisting during the property search in January of 2008 and November of 2003.

4. The current owner of the property on Munson Highway for his cooperation in allowing us to search the property numerous times in an attempt to locate the remains of Daren Kelley.

5. The current owners of the mobile home that Daren Kelley and Kimberly Cannon lived in at the time of his disappearance and for allowing us to process as a crime scene.

5. State Attorney Bill Eddins & Special Prosecutor David Rimmer

6. Florida Department of Law Enforcement

7. Baylor University & Dr. Lori Baker

8. Crime Scene, Major Crimes & Crime Analysis

9. Leon County Sheriff's Office personnel

SUSPECT:

Kimberly Marie Cannon, W/F, 40 years old

1100 Block of Idlewild Drive , Tallahassee , FL

CHARGE:

Murder

Victim Darren Kelley

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net