The tale of Derrick Groves has been resurrected in American media in recent months, not only because of his well-publicized escape from the Orleans Justice Center but also because of his grandmother Kim Groves’s eerie legacy. The name of the woman whose tragic death in 1994 resulted from her extraordinary courage is still etched in the collective memory of New Orleans. The life of her grandson, which is so intricately linked to her legacy, now seems to be the continuation of an incomplete tale about trauma, justice, and survival.
Kim Groves was a lively, talkative mother of three who was well-known in her community. She resided in the Lower 9th Ward, a tight-knit neighborhood where everyone knew one another, on Alabo Street. However, that feeling of security was destroyed on an October night in 1994. Len Davis, a local police officer, retaliated in the most heinous manner after she reported him for viciously beating a young Black man. He planned her murder using his influence and badge.
The city was rocked by that act of corruption. It was more than just the death of a cherished woman; it served as a terrifying reminder of how precisely and mercilessly power can ruin lives when it is misused. The murder of Kim exposed the severe rifts in the relationship between the police and the people of New Orleans, many of whom already felt ignored and degraded.
Table: Derrick Groves and Kim Groves – Family and Background
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Derrick “Woo” Groves |
| Age | 27 (as of 2025) |
| Known For | Escaping from Orleans Justice Center, convicted of double murder |
| Grandmother | Kim Groves |
| Kim Groves’ Death | October 13, 1994, Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans |
| Cause of Death | Murder-for-hire ordered by NOPD officer Len Davis |
| Kim’s Age at Death | 32 years old |
| Family Impact | Three children; Derrick born three years after her death |
| Notable Case | Len Davis convicted of orchestrating Kim Groves’ murder |
| Reference Source | CNN |
Justice felt like it had only been partially served when Davis was found guilty in 1996. Kim’s family was still dealing with the effects of her absence. She had three kids and was attempting to raise them in a cruel and beautiful city. Amazingly, the wound she left behind after dying has never completely healed. For those who remembered Kim as more than just a victim—she was the neighbor who stood up when others were too scared—the news that President Joe Biden had commuted Davis’s death sentence to life in prison in early 2025 brought back painful memories.
Derrick Groves’ grandmother was never introduced to him. He was born three years after her passing and was raised in the tragic and empowering shadow of her legacy. Family members claim that he had a complex relationship with authority because he was told at a young age that his grandmother had been killed for her bravery. He once said to a friend, “You should have faith in the police.” “But my grandmother was killed by them.” A lifetime of inherited mistrust is reflected in that sentence, which is straightforward but devastating.
Derrick’s life descended into violence, loss, and incarceration over the years. After being found guilty of double murder in 2024 and given a life sentence, he broke out of prison in May 2025. The fact that so many online supporters cited his grandmother’s passing as a tragic explanation for his mistrust of justice added complexity to his story. Some even used hashtags like #StayFreeWoo and #JusticeForKimGroves, demonstrating how public empathy can occasionally conflate accountability and compassion.
Kim Groves is still highly regarded by her neighbors in the 9th Ward. Standing as a silent reminder of the night that altered everything is the faded house where she once resided. When the neighbor, who is now elderly, heard the gunshots, she hurried outside. She claimed that the entire neighborhood was harmed. We were all familiar with her. Our hearts were broken by the death of someone like Kim. Flowers are still placed where she fell today, each arrangement serving as a tiny token of appreciation for a woman who dared to speak the truth.
Even though Derrick’s story is violent and painful, it is inextricably linked to hers. It depicts a cycle of loss that started with injustice and descended into hopelessness, reflecting a trauma that has affected generations. Jasmine Groves, his aunt, has openly discussed the family’s suffering, calling their life since his escape a “living nightmare.” She did, however, express one hope despite her grief: that Derrick would safely turn himself in. “This family has lost far too many members,” she remarked. “We must not lose one more.”
New Orleans is still feeling the emotional toll of the murder of Kim Groves. Her passing came to represent the consequences of unchecked corruption. In conversations about police reform, activists and local authorities frequently point to her case as a watershed. It demonstrated the vulnerability of trust and the profound sense of personal justice that arises when authority turns against the people.
In a larger sense, Kim’s story is similar to that of other women, such as Breonna Taylor or Sandra Bland, who unexpectedly became symbols of truth and resistance. Even though their situations are different, their emotional core seems remarkably similar: regular women whose lives revealed extraordinary injustice. Even when it seems safer to keep quiet, the courage of Kim Groves’ example continues to motivate younger generations to speak up.
Her legacy endures remarkably in spite of everything. She is remembered as a woman who valued justice and accountability rather than as a statistic. That belief has turned into a painful inheritance for her family, serving as a reminder of what was lost as well as a source of pride. It turned into a burden for her grandson Derrick, influencing decisions that ultimately led to his demise and changing the course of his life.
The Groves family’s story exemplifies resilience, which is more significant than tragedy. It illustrates how communities can find ways to remember and move on even after decades of heartache. Kim is frequently referred to by 9th Ward residents as “a light that refused to dim,” and local activism is still guided by her memory. Despite the fact that it cost her life, her bravery served as a springboard for continuing discussions about accountability and justice.
