Reward increased to $10,000 in cold case murder

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Investigators announced a new $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the murder of an 18-year-old woman in 2012.

Police say someone shot and killed Vanessa Malone, who went by the nickname "Honey," when she went to visit friends at a Stone Mountain apartment complex.

Investigators believe Malone walked into a home invasion.

"Her birthday is coming up Sunday. She would have been 21," her sister, Cassaundra Pierce, told Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri.

The family said they're hoping the reward brings new information about who killed Malone.

"They're playing video games, saying I love you to their moms and sisters and brothers and playing with their nephews, and my sister doesn't have that opportunity," Pierce said.

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"It could happen again. They could do the same thing to someone else," said Detective Jason Valentin, with DeKalb County Police's homicide unit. "Or harm anyone at any time."

Valentin believes someone in the community has information about the crime.

Pierce said the family needs answers about who would harm Malone, who she described as kind with no known enemies.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.

WSBTV