This petition calls for revisiting an unresolved 25-year-old cold case that involves the tragic loss of my cousins, Velecia Lewis and her unborn child, Velvet Franklin. On January 6, 1999, Velecia was brutally murdered in her apartment. The shocking part of this case is that the landlord, who lived right next door, claimed to have heard nothing even though the apartment walls were thin.

The Memphis Police Department (MPD) has left this case untouched for too long despite the evidence pointing towards a possible perpetrator. There is ambiguity around the investigation that only the MPD can clear up. Their inaction and seeming indifference to this case have let Velecia and her unborn child's murderer roam free for too long.

We call on TBI Director David Rausch to act and demand the MPD bring new attention and resources to this case. The victims deserve justice, their family deserves closure, and the community of Memphis, TN deserves safety.

It's time to bring the tragic story of Velecia and Velvet relentlessly to light. Sign the petition to join us in pressing for justice for Velecia and her unborn baby, Velvet. Every signature brings us one step closer to resolving this painful chapter in our family's history and ensuring it does not repeat in others.