Volusia Sheriff posts $50K reward for ‘last piece’ of unsolved 1994 murder

DELAND, Fla. — Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood is revitalizing the search for whoever killed 15-year-old Laralee Spear, presenting a $50,000 reward for pivotal new tips on the 27th anniversary of Spear’s death.

On the afternoon of April 25, 1994, it’s believed that Spear was abducted from her bus stop on Deerfoot Road in DeLand; that evening, Spear was found shot and killed near a burned-down house less than a mile away.

In a video, Chitwood described why he and his fellow law enforcement officers fight to solve cases such as Spear’s, even after decades have passed:

“I think, for all of us that pin the badge on in the morning and take it off at night, there are some murders like this, a 15-year-old so close to her home, I think for generations of deputies in the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, everybody wants to see this case closed,” Chitwood said.

The video included a plea from Spear’s younger sister, Ginny Bussell:

“I can only beg -- and I hate to say that -- but if you know something, please just come forward, just tell something, even if you think it’s the most useless piece of information, just speak up,” Bussell said.

“One little thing can make a world of difference, can bring peace to Laralee, can bring us hope and closure,” Bussell said.

Mobile users, see video here.

True to Bussell’s thinking, it’s described in the video that even one small detail may change everything:

“We could put together 99 pieces of a hundred-piece puzzle, but someone who’s out there has that last piece, so we ask, if you know anything, please let us know.”

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office says that Chitwood and the Major Case Unit are also working with members of the FBI to explore technology and techniques that could give their long-standing investigation a new forensic lead.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Case Unit via phone or email.

Cox Media Group