Outside detective will review unsolved Anna Pelayo murder in Franklin County

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has agreed to let a New York detective review one of the most high-profile unsolved murders in the Tri-Cities’ history.

Anna Pelayo was 13 years old when she was found shot in the head on Taylor Flats Road in 1997.

Despite multiple leads and rumors the killing was gang-related, investigators have not been able to make an arrest in the cold case.

Christine Pelayo, Anna’s mother, has continued to fight over the years to bring her daughter’s killer to justice. Recently, Christine asked Sheriff Jim Raymond to send the case to a detective in Syracuse, N.Y., who specializes in cold cases.

Neither Pelayo nor Raymond could provide the detective’s name on Friday.

“I spoke to Sheriff Raymond and he was open to having help,” she said. “(Raymond) has been great. I’m thrilled someone else is taking a look and it’s not just sitting there.”

Raymond told the Herald that Franklin County detectives have worked on the Pelayo case since he took office earlier this year.

Raymond agreed to send the case files to the outside detective because he is determined to do whatever it takes to solve the case, he said.

“My bet is that the suspect’s name is right in those case reports,” Raymond said. “It’s just a matter of making that connection.’

— Tyler Richardson

This story was originally published October 18, 2015 at 10:43 PM with the headline "Outside detective will review unsolved Anna Pelayo murder in Franklin County."