Frustrated and looking for answers, the families of several Central Florida murder and accident victims spoke out Thursday morning demanding law enforcement to work harder to give them explanations on their loved ones’ deaths.
- Families of victims demand answers from law enforcement
- Daughter of Marlin Nelson wants to know who killed her father
- OPD chief says the dept. does what they can to reach out
"We still have not received an answer as far as her father’s murder," said Adrienne Skinner, the former girlfriend of Marlin Nelson, a man murdered back in 2000.
Nelson went missing from Orlando back in January 2000. On Jan. 5, he was found shot and with his body set on fire in Lake County.
While the family knows what happened, his daughter who was two at the time, says she doesn't know why, how or who could do this.
"There's nothing you can do to comfort them if it's not solved — it never goes away," said Nelson's daughter Ianya.
Nelson's daughter wasn't the only one who said loss of life, especially without answers leaves a gaping hole.
Although many of the cases discussed Thursday involved the work of many law enforcement agencies, they spoke at Orlando Police Department’s headquarters.
OPD Police Chief John Mina said he hasn't heard from these families before but is willing to have talks with them and other agencies on how to enhance the discussion of their investigations.
"We are happy to lead the discussion and really get victims’ families in touch with the services they need if it's the state attorney's office or the state of Florida,” Mina said.
While the families work to sit with OPD in April, they told Spectrum News 13 they are also advocating for victims’ rights.
Just this week the newly proposed Marsy's Law of Florida moved forward and is on its way to being on the November ballot in Florida.
The law would increase the rights to updated information on cases to be given to victims’ families.
Mary's Law of Florida is something Ianya said would reassure her and her family.
"I know it's been a long time, but if there is anything (law enforcement) can give to help so we can solve it, that would be great," Ianya said.
Mina also said their agency, and particularly homicide investigators, do what they can to reach out back to the families of victims to follow up, but in some cases can't divulge too much information for fear of sabotaging the investigation.