Mother Of 2005 Fatal Kidnapping Victim Seeks Help
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―The kidnapping and murder of Jeryl Singleterry has stumped investigators for five years. Now his heartbroken mother is pleading for justice.
Mike Hellgren takes you inside this cold case.
The holidays are hard for Singleterry's mom: her son was murdered just days before Thanksgiving in 2005. She believes he knew his killer, and there's someone who can crack this case.
"He was just a lovable person," said Cecilia Matthews, mother of the victim.
Matthews has lived without closure and with the pain of her son Jeryl Singleterry's murder for five years.
"I couldn't sleep.I couldn't eat. I couldn't think," Matthews said.
The ordeal began moments after Singleterry dropped off his son Jalen at a relative's house on East Hoffman Street in Baltimore City.
Someone abducted Singleterry and demanded thousands of dollars in ransom. The family paid the money after getting frantic phone calls from Singleterry.
"Whoever they are, they're not playing," Singleterry said in a phone call to his family. "They want to do this. They want you to do that. The only thing I want to do is see my son be born."
But Singleterry would never live to see that little boy.
"Who would want to do something like this? What was your motive? Where was your mind at?" Matthews said.
Police found Singeterry's body inside his minivan on Mcfaul Road in White Marsh.
"I just broke down, and I said, 'Oh, my God. Oh, my God,' " Matthews said. "Reality set in that my child was gone."
Police never made an arrest.
"We've received very little in terms of leads or information in this case," said Rob McCullough, Baltimore County police.
She often comes to the cemetery to talk to her son, and she hopes one day she can tell him they found his killer. She believes it's someone he knew and that witnesses have been scared to speak. She's urging them to do it now--for her grandchildren and for justice.
"What do you say to a child who wants their daddy? What can you tell them?" Matthews said. "In my heart, I feel like closure is going to come."
Singleterry's mom wants people to know they can remain anonymous when they call police with their tips.
You can call Crimestoppers with tips at 1-866-7-LOCKUP.
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