Family of Douglas County 15-year-old cold case murder: 'Why did this happen to my grandmother?'
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. - Maryanne Humphrey was working at a Circle K on Stewart Mill Road on Sept. 19, 2009, when a masked man walked into the business and tried to rob the store at gunpoint. The store is still open 15 years later and so is the murder case.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, along with family members, is hoping their pleas will be heard to finally jog someone’s memory in the murder of the Douglas County grandmother.
"I know her as nana," the victim’s granddaughter, Kailyn Kaiser, said, fighting back tears. For 15 years, I have always wondered why. As years passed, and the case grew colder and colder, why did this happen to my grandmother?"
Image from a 2009 incident in Douglasville related to the murder of Maryanne Humphrey. (Provided by Douglas County Sheriff's Office)
Officials say Humphrey tried to stop the man. In the one photo taken from surveillance footage, the 63-year-old grandmother is seen struggling with the would-be robber. During the struggle, investigators say the man fired at least one shot, killing Humphrey.
Now, nearly 15 years after her death, the identity of the Douglas County woman's killer remains unknown. With the anniversary coming up, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has renewed its calls for any information that could help catch the man.
"We have tips that come in, a couple of times a month, and they just seem to revolve around the same topics and same individuals," said Douglas County Sheriff’s Capt. Jon Mauney.
For the first time, investigators have released sketches of the suspect. One shows what the killer looked like back then. A teen or possibly in his early 20s, 5 feet 4 inches tall. Another sketch shows what the gunman may look like today, 15 years later.
Sketches of man wanted in the shooting death of Maryanne Humphrey at the Circle K along Stewart Mill Road in Douglas County n Sept 19, 2009. (Supplied)
Investigators want the public to take a close look at the man's sneakers. They are rare Reeboks. A recreation was made of the shoes after the suspect was spotted wearing them.
"These shoes, what makes them so special, they were just released at the time of the homicide," said Capt. Mauney. "Not a lot of people had them at the time. There were only so many that were put out.’
A lot has changed in 15 years, but investigators stand with the family confident they can provide justice for Maryann Humphrey by jogging the memory just a bit.
"We need your help to bring closure to this family. Let their loved ones finally have the justice they have been seeking all this time," said Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine.
If you have any information that could help with the case, contact the GBI or the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the cold case.