Re: 3/27/01 - [WTNH] Reward in Jovin case increases; Police seek van driver
Reward in Jovin case increases; Police seek van driver
(New Haven-WTNH, Mar. 27, 2001 8:30 PM ) _ Yale University is hoping an additional $100,000 added to the reward money offered to help track down the person who murdered Suzanne Jovin will help uncover new information. On Tuesday, Jovin's sister Ellen returned to New Haven to make a plea for any witnesses to step forward.
"Suzanne was a tremendously kind person and she had a great sense of social commitment," says Ellen Jovin, sister.
Suzanne Jovin was the type of person, her sister Ellen says, who would come forward if she were a witness to a crime like the one that befell her.
"And I hope if, if there is someone out there who knows something, that he or she will do the same," says Jovin.
Ellen Jovin joined the state's Attorneys Office and New Haven police as they announced a new tip hotline and a $100,000 donation from Yale University that bumps up the reward for information leading to Jovin's killer to $150,000.
"Witnesses have reported seeing a tan or brown van in the roadway near where Suzanne Jovin was found," says Michael Dearington, Assistant State's Attorney.
Investigators believe whoever was in that van in the East Rock neighborhood where Jovin was found stabbed to death on December 4th, 1998 may have seen something.
With no arrests in the case, James Van de Velde, Jovin's senior thesis advisor at Yale remains the only suspect named, though police say there are a few others. They will not identify them.
"Until we make an arrest then we can't eliminate anyone from the process," says Chief Melvin Wearing.
The two detectives who orginally lead the Jovin investigation left the New Haven police department amid allegations of misconduct in an unrelated case.
On Tuesday, Chief Wearing praised the top cops that took over.
But, police have found little evidence in this case and no weapon.
While Jovin's sister said she's hopeful a killer will be found, she couldn't say she expects it will ever happen.
"I don't know - it's hard it's been a long time," says Jovin.
Posters are going up announcing the new reward and a new hotline number for anyone with information that could lead to Jovin's murderer.
The number is 1-866-888-TIPS.
The telephone will be answered by New Haven police investigators on this case.
wtnh.com
=====
Watch the story from News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue:
video.wtnh.com |
