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MILLCREEK — It has been four months since investigators say Linda Nemelka was shot and killed in her car. On March 11, Nemelka had dinner at a friend’s home on Red Sage Court in Millcreek, walked back to her car to leave and was found gunned down in the driver’s seat.
Nemelka’s family is still trying to understand how this could have happened to the 57-year-old mother of five.
“I would like to get justice for her and closure for my family,” said her son, Cory Nemelka.
Her family hopes by sharing her story, it will keep the case top of mind.
“Someone knows what happened. Someone has heard something,” Cory Nemelka said. “We just want to get the information out there.”
The family believes since the murder happened during the week pandemic shutdowns made national headlines back in March, their mother’s case has been overshadowed.
“We do believe that if things weren’t so crazy she would have gotten more coverage and maybe that could have led to answers,” daughter Jessica Beneventi said. “She really does deserve more than silence — she deserves answers.”
Investigators with the Unified Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit said they were not sure if Nemelka was targeted or shot at random.
“What it is looking like is potentially a robbery that had maybe gone bad. We’re not 100 percent sure, but based on her missing wallet and the fact that she was shot kind of lends itself to the possibility of a robbery,” said UPD Sgt. Melody Gray.
Do you know who killed #LindaNemelka back in March? @UPDSL investigators have hit a dead end and need your help solving the case. Hear the family's plea, next at 10:00 @KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/27ISXVFiT9
— Ashley Moser (@AshleyMoser) July 18, 2020
Police canvassed the area and spoke to residents where the shooting happened but did not learn much. They did, however, get a partial description of a car quickly leaving the scene after the gunshots.
“The only information that we really have was either a dark-colored or red SUV vehicle leaving the area that one of the witnesses when they heard the gunshots, look outside and saw a vehicle,” Gray said.
Unified police are now offering a $2,500 reward that leads to an arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
If you have any information, call their Violent Crimes Unit at 385-468-9812.
