3 years ago
ASHBURN, Va. (WUSA) -- Their 14 year old daughter was murdered five years ago.
The case was never solved.
And the very person they thought was their support has ended up causing more harm.
Still grieving, William Smith and his wife Pam say their so-called family friend embezzled the reward fund set up to solve their daughter Erica's murder.
In August 2002, 11 days after she went missing, Erica's body was found in a shallow grave in a coporate office park in Ashburn.
Her parents say they are haunted by questions.
"Did she suffer, what happened and did she beg for her life?" asked Smith.
Erica's mom says the hardest part is,"I don't have a face to go with who murdered my daughter."
Compounding their pain is the alleged betrayal by Roosevelt Henderson Jr.
In May of 2006, he was charged with felony counts of money laundering and grand larceny after police discovered he had embezzled money from Erica's reward fund.
Earlier this year, after entering an Alford Plea which essentially acknowledges there's enough evidence to convict him, the Washington's learned Henderson had changed his mind and is trying to back out of the deal.
A new reward fund has been set up to help find Erica's killer.
If you'd like to contribute, you can call the Branch Bank and Trust at 703-668-1580. The fund is set up under the "Sully Elementary PTO, The Erica Smith Memorial Fund.
Written by Nancy Yamada9NEWS NOW
