GREENSBORO -- Police are still looking for leads in a six-year-old murder case.
Octavious Wilson’s death is one of 89 cold cases detectives are working on with a federal grant designed to help them use DNA evidence.
"It was cold. There wasn't really anyone out. It was the dead of winter," said Cpl. Michael Matthews, GPD Homicide Squad.
Doris Wilson, Octavious Wilson's Mother, added, "I knew when I heard that loud knock at that time in the morning, it was something. When I went to the door I saw two detectives standing there and the expression on their faces...I knew it wasn't good."
It was a knock just as real now as six years ago, when she learned her son, Octavious Wilson, was murdered, ten days after his 35th birthday.
"I can't even describe that feeling," said Wilson. "I never ever had to go through something like that, to bury my child."
Police were called early Jan. 22, 2009 to Phillips Avenue. Octavious was found in the road, shot.
"We did recover the murder weapon during another investigation years later and with our firearms unit, we were able to link that firearm with this homicide. We worked that lead for several years, but were not able to get enough detailed information to make a charge," said Matthews.
Wilson added, “The hardest thing is no to know who did it. That’s been the hardest.”
Doris remembers her youngest as friendly, outgoing.
"He liked football. He played football at Page and Western Guilford," said Matthews.
"I can hear his laugh...even in his darkest days, there was never despair. It was always, 'There'll be a better day,'" said Shimina Nixon, Lauren Watkin's aunt.
Shimina Nixon went to school with Wilson. She sees his smile on his daughter's face.
"I’m 21, so I have guy issues, boy issues. That's something you'd call your dad about, but I can't do that," said Lauren Watkins, Octavious Wilson's daughter.
Almost 16 when her dad was taken, Lauren is in college, while keeping up with her father's case.
"Someone shot my dad point blank range in the head," said Watkins. "There’s people driving the same roads as we drive...I could walk by that person and never know.”
She doesn't have a lot of memories of her dad, but keeps letters he wrote her from prison.
"I have them in a box and one day I'll be able to read them, but I'm not able to read them right now," said Lauren Watkins.
Every year on his birthday, Doris and Lauren visit Wilson, to place flowers on his grave. Ten days later, they return.
"I hear his voice sometimes telling me, 'Mama, I'm alright.' He doesn't just want me to just go to pieces and give up on living, because it’s gonna come out," said Wilson.
Wilson's family and police say if you have any information, even the smallest detail about what happened or if you saw Octavious before his death, you should give them a call.
You can remain anonymous through Crime Stoppers, and depending on where that information leads, you could receive a reward.
Call: 336-373-1000