TAYLOR (WWJ) -- Coming up on a decade since Chelsea Small was found murdered at an Advance America store Downriver, police still don't know who killed her.
Crime Stoppers of Michigan is renewing its call for tips to solve this cold case, offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. That's on top of a $50,000 reward offered by Advance America, for a total of $55,000.
On Tuesday, November 12, 2013, Small — a 30-year-old mother of two — was found dead at the check cashing business at 8229 Telegraph Road near Champaign Street in Taylor.
Small, who had only worked at the store for a few months, was the only employee working at the time. The store had a security entrance that customers have to buzzed-in through, but police aren't sure if Small knew her killer.
The suspect (pictured below) was captured on surveillance video. He is described as a white male, 35-50 years of age, 5'10", stocky build, shoulder length brown hair. At the time of the crime, was wearing a white t-shirt with a dark jacket, dark colored pants, and tan shoes. The suspect also had a dark colored hat with a light colored logo on front and left side, and walks with a slouch.
Shooting suspect.Taylor PD
Officers found Small's body while responding to a holdup alarm at the store.
She had been shot multiple times, and police said the suspected is believed to have a "good deal of experience" with firearms.
It's believed robbery was the motive, as cash was missing from the store, according to investigators.
However, Small's mother, Debi Kamin, said she had a "mother's gut feeling" that her daughter knew the shooter.
"It's a possibility that she's crossed paths with him," Kamin said, in a previous interview with WWJ Newsradio 950. "I just feel that she was familiar with this person."
Thousands of tips came in following Small's death, according to Kamin.
And while police said years ago that followed up on "several small leads" in the case, nothing ever panned out.
Kamin said one of the hardest things about her daughter's death is how it has impacted the lives of her children, who now have to grow up without their mother.
"They are experiencing a lot of loss. Of course, they miss her and not completely comprehending why, at their young age, why something like this had to happen," she said.
Small's mom, along with other family and friends, were expected to speak at a news conference on Friday.
Anyone with information about this homicide should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP (1-800-773-2587). Tips may also be submitted online at this link.
As always, those who contact Crime Stoppers will stay 100% anonymous, will not be asked their names and are not required to speak to police or to testify in court. Cash rewards are paid by Crime Stoppers upon an arrest in a case; they do not wait for a conviction.
