http://www.wdrb.com/story/27540635/five-years-after-louisville-murder-victim-still-not-identified
Five years after Louisville murder, victim still not identifiedPosted: Dec 03, 2014 4:58 PM ESTUpdated: Dec 03, 2014 5:10 PM EST
Do you know this man? He was shot and killed on Dec. 3, 2009, outside an apartment complex near Preston and Gilmore in Louisville. The people responsible were tried and convicted, but police need help identifying the victim.
LOUISVILLE, Ky (WDRB) -- Five people are serving time in prison for his murder five years ago. The problem? Police don't know who the victim is.
"It's the most bizarre case," said Brenda Wescott, a detective with LMPD's Cold Case Homicide Unit.
Wescott told WDRB it's a solved case that feels incomplete.
"We know who did it. We just don't know who the victim is. We're done as far as my department's concerned. Good job, we closed the case. As far as the courts are concerned, it's done. Good job, you got the bad guys. They're in jail. But it doesn't feel done," she said.
The man pictured was shot and killed on December 3rd, 2009 outside an apartment complex near Preston and Gilmore in Louisville.
"People heard the shots. He was actually chased by his assailants and he was shot," said Wescott.
The picture came from a phone found in a nearby apartment that may or may not be his.
Within a month of the murder, five suspects were arrested.
Keith Fowler, Cedric Johnson, Ashley Marshall, Jonathan Downs and Devan Peterson have since been charged and convicted for the murder.
"They targeted him for a robbery and he resisted and they killed him," Wescott told WDRB.
Because of the circumstances, it's a murder, Wescott says, that would normally go unsolved.
"This is solved because two 6th division detectives Todd Roadhouse and Derrick Brooks, arrested another young man for a robbery and he gave information."
Detective Wescott says they've gone to extreme lengths to try to identify the victim.
"We reached out to homeland security and to immigration to see if they could help us out through fingerprints or identification, criminal histories, anything. Nothing."
The victim is buried at River Valley Cemetery in southwest Jefferson County. Some St. Xavier students raised money to buy him a headstone and to perform a proper burial. Because of his Hispanic heritage, the students engraved Juan Doe, instead of John Doe.
Wescott says she'll keep investigating until she learns the name of her mystery victim.
"This is the first case for me and any of my peers that we know of where we actually picked a murder up, five years have gone by, we were fortunate enough to be able to solve the murder, the case is adjudicated, the courts have spoken and we still don't know who our victim is."
If you recognize the man in the picture, call the Cold Case Homicide Unit at 574-7120 or you can leave an anonymous tip at 574-LMPD.
Home
Search
Login
Register