JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — JSO said it has re-submitted DNA evidence for testing in a nearly eight-year-old cold case.
Det. Ray Reeves called it “very promising” in hopefully solving the murder of an 83-year-old Robert Levey.
There’s an empty lot where Levey’s home used to sit on Mimosa Drive.
Back on June 25, 2013 first responders were called to the area to put out a house fire.
It’s a day neighbor Joanne Rheaume and her husband will never forget.
“He said ‘Joanne there’s a big fire out here’ and so of course [I got] out the door,” said Rheaume.
Inside investigators would find Levey’s body on his kitchen floor.
Det. Reeves said it wasn’t the fire that killed him.
“He’s got obvious injuries and he’s removed out and they begin working on him tragically they’re unable to save him,” said Det. Reeves.
His death was ultimately ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma.
“I can’t imagine why anybody would’ve had anything against him,” said Rheaume.
That night neighbors said they saw someone leaving the Levey home with a gas can and tried chasing him but couldn’t catch up.
There’s now an enhanced reward of up to $6,000 for information that could lead to an arrest.
But there’s something else JSO is working on.
“We’ve recently looked at some evidence that we can bring up to today’s standards as early as this week I was able to submit some more of the evidence that had initially been tested,” said Reeves.
The suspect is described as a white man in his late teens or early twenties, 5′6 to 5′8 and about 130 to 150 pounds and at the time he may have been hurt.
Rheaume remembers how she would often sit and talk with Levey; she’s hoping his case isn’t forgotten.
“I hope they find who did it, you never know if they’re out doing something else,” said Rheaume.
Through the nonprofit Project: Cold Case (www.projectcoldcase.org), the Levey family sent Action News Jax this statement:
“This June, 25th will be the 8th anniversary of the murder of Bob Levey. He is dearly missed by his family and friends.
We remain grateful for our caring community, the JSO and their efforts to solve this case, the ongoing care and helpfulness of Project: Cold Case and our local Television Stations for presenting this information”.
We are hopeful that someone will come forward with information that will help solve this case”.
If you have any information that could lead to an arrest call Crimestoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
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