(03/18/13) - The family of a man murdered more than 17 years ago is trying something new to try and generate new tips.
They pushed for a billboard and now one is up at the corner of Dort and Leith in Flint. Andy Valdez's body was found not far from there, in Flint's Whaley Park, in January of 1996. No one was ever arrested or charged.
Flint Police D/Sgt. Greg Hosmer says there are several different versions of what could have happened to him all those years ago. Nobody has been eliminated, according to Hosmer.
"You see these pictures? Smile on his face? He always had a smile on his face," said Valdez's sister Bea Ellis.
Ellis smiles too talking about her brother, but when the topic shifts to his murder - so does her mood.
"How they killed him was absolutely cruel and nobody deserves to die the way he did," Ellis said.
Valdez's body was found, by kids on bikes, in a van on Super Bowl Sunday in 1996. It's not clear how long his body had been there or if he'd been killed there.
Valdez was 36, married, had three children and had worked at General Motors 17 years - the same number of years he's been gone now.
His billboard will be up at least 30 days. Ellis said Crime Stoppers is paying for it.
"We know somebody knows. We know that. Why they haven't come forward we don't know," Ellis said.
Ellis and police both believe he had been robbed. He was shot twice at least twice.
"Before they closed the casket, I promised him I'd do everything I could to find the killer and that is a promise I'm going to keep," Ellis said.
If you know anything about Valdez's murder, please call Crime Stoppers at 800-422-5245 (JAIL) or Hosmer at 810-237-6945.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:39 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:39:23 GMT
(05/21/13) - Weather in Mid-Michigan, Tuesday, will most likely be similar to Monday, with but maybe not quite so much heavy rain, thunder and lightning. Beaverton in Gladwin County seems to have taken
Mother Nature left her mark on Gladwin County. Strong winds knocked down power lines, toppled trees and blew bricks off the top of a building.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:48 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:48:10 GMT
(05/21/13) -The Saginaw County Sheriffs Department is on the lookout for two people who stole from an animal control shelter. The thieves got away with donation money that would have helped care for helpless
The Saginaw County Sheriffs Department is on the lookout for two people who stole from an animal control shelter.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:36 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:36:37 GMT
(05/21/13) - First responders in Michigan are being recognized this week for their service to the community, but their hearts are with fellow paramedics and EMT's in Oklahoma. Like everyone in their line
First responders in Michigan are being recognized this week for their service to the community, but their hearts are with fellow paramedics and EMT's in Oklahoma.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:31 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:31:10 GMT
(5/21/13) A mid-Michigan man is approaching a goal that seems nearly impossible. Over more than three decades he will have run more than 58-thousand miles for a very special purpose.Michael Bowen often
A Mid-Michigan man is approaching a goal that seems nearly impossible. Over more than three decades he will have run more than 58,000 miles for a very special purpose.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:29 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:29:04 GMT
(05/21/13) - The American Cancer Society is celebrating its 100th birthday this week. On Thursday from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., there's going to be a birthday party at the American Cancer Society offices on
The American Cancer Society is celebrating its 100th birthday this week.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:26 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:26:15 GMT
(05/21/13) - Consumers Energy is working hard to restore power in Gladwin County and surrounding areas. A large number of outages are being reported in the Beaverton area. More than 700 people are still
There are still a number of power outages in Gladwin County.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:25 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:25:39 GMT
(05/21/13) - Next month will mark 60 years since the deadly Beecher tornado. The half mile twister actually touched down in Mount Morris Township on June 8, 1953. 116 people died that day - that's more
Next month will mark 60 years since the deadly Beecher tornado.
