NEWNAN, Ga. — Blake Chappell's killer still hasn't been caught, 12 years after his body was discovered. Newnan Police Department investigators are now pleading with a two-time tipster to come forward.
Dec. 19 marks the date in 2011 when police found Blake's remains. His mother, Melissa Chappell, said every year when the holidays come around, it's always a tough time.
"I'm hanging in there," Melissa said.
After more than a decade, it hasn't gotten any easier.
"You just learn to live with it," Melissa said. She said there's more to the story than what people have probably heard.
"It frustrates me because the public doesn't know about what was going on prior to Blake disappearing," Melissa said.
In 2011, police found Blake's body in a Newnan creek. Melissa is now filling in the gaps on what she believes happened.
In May of that year, Melissa said Blake split from his then-girlfriend. She said the girlfriend ran away. Next, she and her mother asked Melissa for Blake's location. Melissa said Blake spoke with the family.
Then, she and Blake were threatened.
She believes Blake went to look for the girlfriend, found her, and then the couple rode off together. She said the girlfriend's family believed they were trying to run away together. In the end, Melissa said Blake did some jail time for this.
"He went to court on Friday, October the 14th," Melissa said. "And went to homecoming dance October the 15th and went missing between the 15th and the 16th."
It took more than two months for police to find Blake. On Nov. 20, Newnan Police Detective Marcos Gonzales shared an update about a tipster.
"In 2011, we received a letter with an anonymous tip," Gonzales said. "Several years later, we received a second letter. It is our belief that these letters were written by the same person. To the sender: you can remain anonymous, but please contact us again."
Gonzales also announced that investigators had exhausted all leads and added another detective to the case.
All Melissa can hope is that the person who knows something finally closes this chapter.
"I need closure. I need to know what happened to my son," Melissa said.
She has this to say to the killer:
"I've forgiven you because I need that for myself. And that's what we're supposed to do," Melissa said.
Meantime, she says justice looks like closure.
"How much time they might or might not get does not matter to me," Melissa said. "As far as I'm concerned, we've all done 12 years, so far."
The family has an online fundraiser going toward a private investigation, a tombstone, and a burial plot for Blake's remains. People can donate here.
Newnan Police have asked if anyone knows anything about this murder, please contact the department.
"Let them know all that you know," Melissa said. "We just need this to be over with. It's been way too long."