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Parents Plead For Information Year After Daughter's Death

18-Year-Old Shot Outside Apartment Complex

POSTED: 4:28 pm EDT April 13, 2009
UPDATED: 7:46 pm EDT April 13, 2009

The parents of a Kokomo teenager shot and killed one year ago pleaded Monday for any new information in the case.

Abby Rethlake, 18, was found fatally shot in a car in a parking lot outside the Meadow Lawn apartments, in the 1900 block of Goyer Road, in early April 2008.

Detectives work on the case every day, but one year later and police said they are no closer to making an arrest, 6News' Jennifer Carmack reported.

"We believe that there were enough people involved and enough people that would have been told that there are people that could come forward and give us the information we need," said Kokomo police Lt. Don Whitehead.

It's a fact that's hard to stomach for Tom and Kathy Rethlake, who said they never expected the case would go unsolved for so long.

"I just figured this would be done and over with that they would know right away who did this," said Kathy Rethlake. "I just can't imagine why someone wouldn't come forward. If it was their baby girl they would want someone to tell."

Abby Rethlake's room remains untouched in her parent's home, where every day brings reminders of the daughter they've lost.

"Everything reminds us of Abby," Kathy Rethlake said. "She was such a beautiful girl and she was so big-hearted and she would do anything for anyone."

Police believe her killing was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her parents said they just want whoever pulled the trigger brought to justice.

"I'll never be able to close the scar that's on my heart," Tom Rethlake said. "My daughter is gone and I can't replace Abby. Now it's about right and wrong."

Police had previously released a video surveillance picture of a man thought to be connected to the case, but it did not lead to any tips, Whitehead said.

Morgan Vetter, 19, was also shot but survived. The shooter was described as about 5 feet 8 inches tall and 190 pounds.

There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

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