GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A four-year old cold case is now closed, after family of Ray Neal say they helped Gwinnett County Police make a break in the case.
Neal’s niece, Ashli Haynes recalls finding her uncle dead inside of his home off Lexington Drive in Norcross in July of 2019.
“I was there with my mom. He had his arms up over his face…his arms shielded in a defensive way,” said Haynes.
The Gwinnett County medical examiner would rule Neal’s death natural. It was not until the funeral home noticed stab wounds on Neal’s body, that his cause of death would be changed to homicide.
Haynes says it was just a few months ago that her family told investigators to look into 50-year-old Carmen Marie Hunt, who was already in the Gwinnett County Jail for committing a similar crime.
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Gwinnett County Police Public Information Officer, Corporal Ryan Winderweedle says that when the lead investigator on the case went back to what was recovered at the crime scene.
“He went back and looked at crime scene photos and did some more interviews of associates and ended up locating a bloody fingerprint,” said Winderweedle.
Investigators determined the bloody fingerprint was a match for Hunt, ultimately charging her in the death of Neal. Hunt will now have a felony murder and aggravated assault charge added.
Haynes said when she heard the news, she cried, “I prayed, I thanked God, because I didn’t think this day would come.”
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Channel 2 Action News spoke with Hayne’s mother, Michelle Smalls back in 2019 shortly after her brother’s death. Haynes says her mom passed away two years ago, and she has been fighting for justice in her honor.
“For us to be able to finish it out for my mom is the biggest thing that I’ve accomplished in life,” Haynes added.
While the years-long cold case is now closed, Haynes says her family’s fight for the truth is not over yet.
“I would love to one day know why,” said Haynes.
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