GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County police say every available detective is working to find the killer or killers in the murders of a 60-year-old woman and her 29-year-old son.
Investigators said James Sramek and Nicola Sramek were tortured before they died.
Police found their bodies in their Barrington Hills Apartment complex unit Sunday night. No one knows for sure how long they had been dead.
“Whoever did this is a coward, because how would you pick on someone so little? If you wanted to beat them up and leave this that's one thing," Nicola's daughter and James' sister, Jamie Arvia said.
Arvia said she became worried when she couldn’t reach her mother after speaking with her last Wednesday.
She said she finally convinced police to enter their apartment Sunday night.
She describes her brother as a rapper who was trying to turn his lifestyle around after battling addiction and other issues. Records show he was sentenced to probation and time served following a 2011 guilty plea for pimping.
Channel 2's Tony Thomas found several rap videos on James Sramek’s Facebook page. %
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Three days after the discovery of the bodies, Gwinnett investigators confirmed that the two had been beaten and cut with knives before they died.
Investigators have asked several metro area police departments for assistance in the case, along with help from federal agencies, including the FBI.
“Right now our detectives are focused on figuring out exactly what the motive was,” Cpl. Deon Washington told Thomas.
The family says James was working as a bartender at Tony’s Sports Grille on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.
He continued to work on his music as well.
Family members gathered Wednesday afternoon to look at the bodies at a Buford funeral home.
“I’m looking for justice and I'm not leaving until it's done, “ said Vincent Olivo. He was Nicola’s brother and James' uncle.
Arvia said that no matter what the motive was behind the attack, her mother especially didn’t deserve to die that way.
“There's no way she could have done anything to hurt them, “ Arvia said.
Police have increased the normal Crime Stoppers reward to $4,000 in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404 577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org.