Keith Sylvester

Arrested in 2018 and accused of murdering his mother and stepfather. He spent nearly 14 months in jail for a crime he did not commit.

Keith Sylvester was charged with strangling his mother, Deborah Hubbard, and stepfather, Harry Hubbard.

He consistently maintained his innocence throughout his detention.

The case against Sylvester unraveled when evidence surfaced implicating another suspect, Cornelius Muckle.

Muckle’s cellphone was traced to the crime scene, and he was found to have pawned items from the victims’ household shortly after the murders.

After spending almost 14 months behind bars, Sylvester was cleared of all charges.

In September 2024, the city of Atlanta approved a $1.5 million settlement for Sylvester’s wrongful arrest and imprisonment.

This incident demonstrates how even in serious felony cases like murder, wrongful arrests can occur, leading to significant consequences for the accused and eventual legal action against the authorities.

Sylvester v. Barnett, No. 22-13258 (11th Cir. 2024)

In this lawsuit, Keith Sylvester alleged that Detective James Barnett violated his Fourth Amendment rights by causing his arrest and detention without probable cause.

Sylvester’s parents were murdered and their house set on fire.

Detective Barnett led the investigation and suspected Sylvester was the culprit, ultimately obtaining an arrest warrant for him.

Sylvester spent over a year in jail until the charges were dropped. Sylvester claimed that Barnett lacked probable cause when he applied for the arrest warrant, arguing that key exonerating evidence was omitted from the affidavit.