The family of Brittany Zimmermann, a deceased UW-Madison student, has decided to place ads inside Metro Transit buses, as well as on a Madison billboard, in hopes of furthering investigations into her killing.
Zimmermann was stabbed to death inside her West Doty Street apartment after dialing 911 in April 2008. November 15 would have been her 23rd birthday.
Kim Heeg, Zimmermann's aunt, said Zimmermann's mother chose to place the ads and the billboard after seeing her face on a nationally sponsored billboard on the National Day of Remembrance on September 25. On this day, parents of slain children sponsor several billboards in Madison to honor victims.
Heeg also said she hopes the ads will serve as a reminder of the $15,000 reward for the person who can provide information leading to an arrest and conviction of the killer.
""As time goes on, information on the reward becomes less and less known,"" Heeg said. ""If people know anything we encourage them to come forward.""
According to Lt. Dave McCaw of the Madison Police Department, several detectives are still actively investigating the case.
McCaw said the first 24 to 48 hours of any investigation are when the department makes their best headway, and the longer it takes, the more difficult it is to find the perpetrators.
McCaw said there are still many people who truly want to help, showing their service by calling in with leads.
""We may look at 1,000 leads that turn out with nothing in the hopes that we'll find one that will lead us to the arrest of this person,"" he said.
Sometimes the leads the detectives receive can take them to other cities or out of state.
""It's an all time-consuming investigation,"" he said.
Heeg said one of the hardest parts of the ordeal has been the horror that surrounds it.
""Brittany was such a joyful person, always smiling and always positive,"" she said. ""I want people to remember this. I want people to find this. It's not just about Brittany, it's about the students.""
