Golden Valley Police Department
POSTED September 21, 2018
On the morning of Sept 23, 2000, the body of Keke Jefferson-Moore was discovered in Wirth Lake in Golden Valley by two morning walkers. A call was made to local dispatch at 9:50 am advising the Golden Valley Police Department of a possible drowning. An autopsy determined Keke had been murdered. Nearly 20 years later, the case remains unsolved, but the GVPD is not giving up and the investigation is ongoing.
In today’s world of constantly changing technology, more can be done with evidence than ever before. Using Hennepin County Sherriff’s Office Crime Lab, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and FBI resources, the GVPD continues to review the evidence. Investigators also revisit witnesses and persons of interest, searching for new leads.
Keke Jefferson-Moore (1980-2000)
Keke Jefferson-Moore was born in September 1980 to Johnetta Jefferson-Moore and Benjamin Moore. She had two older siblings, a brother and sister.
Growing up in Brooklyn Park, Keke was just like any other kid, said her parents. She loved animals, riding her bike, playing with remote control cars, dancing with her father at family reunions, and spending time and doing makeovers with her friend Melody.
“She was a happy, fun, and loving person,” says Moore. “She loved joking around.”
Keke attended Osseo High School and graduated in 1998 from WAVE alternative high school in Osseo. Her parents agreed she was a people person who got along well with everyone and was always friendly when she met new people.
“High school was where Keke discovered a passion for photography and writing,” recalls Jefferson-Moore. Although she took a job as a telemarketer after graduation, she planned to go to college to study journalism.
“She was a giving person,” adds Jefferson-Moore. “She stood up for the right thing.”
Keke had especially looked forward to being an aunt, her parents said. Her niece, Kalilah, was born in early 2000, and she loved spending as much time as possible with her.
Keke’s time with her niece and the rest of her family was cut short at age 20, when she was murdered in Golden Valley.
Her parents want closure. Her father says “even after 18 years, it scares me to think the murderer is still out on the street somewhere,” and her mother says “there is a hole in my heart that will never heal.”
“Before we die, we want justice. She was our daughter, and then she was gone.”
GVPD Turning To Public For New Leads
To expand its search for information, the GVPD is asking the public for help. Investigators believe someone may know something that could help solve Keke’s murder and bring closure to a family that has been waiting years for answers.
The GVPD hopes Keke’s story is shared by the community through FaceÂbook, Twitter, and other social media outlets in hopes of finding someone who knows what happened. The GVPD is confident someone out there knows exactly what happened to Keke and will share information, which will allow the family healing and closure.
If you or someone you know has any information regarding this homicide or any of Golden Valley’s other cold cases, please contact the GVPD tip line at 763-512-2500 or by email at police@goldenvalleymn.gov.
Golden Valley Police Department
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