Franklin Harker-Johnson

17 years old

Family of Hit and Run Victim is Looking for Answers

Nelson Co, Va - A hit and run accident --law enforcement officers call it one of the toughest crimes to solve. One of those cases is still under investigation in Nelson County. And the family of the victim is not giving up, until they get some answers.

It happened around 1:00 AM on a Saturday night. A 17-year-old student was walking home after being out with friends. He had no drugs or alcohol in his system. His body was found on Lowesville Road near Piney River. That was 2 and a half months ago.

Terry Mays, Franklin's Mother - "You can't get any sense of closure when you don't even know what happened."

It has been a struggle for the family of Franklin Harker-Johnson. The young man had recently turned his life around. He was the father of a new-born baby daughter.

Mays - "It's like he had just found all of his answers and you know he had gotten a job, he was finishing his senior year in High School."

Investigators still have no idea who is responsible for Franklin's death. There was almost no evidence left at the scene.

John Carl Brown, Franklin's Brother - "They murdered somebody, they murdered my brother and they should be held accountable for that."

Mays - "I mean I know someday they will face the Lord and that's comforting to me, but it would be nice to have justice for his sake here on earth."

The family believes someone in this small community knows something about this crime. The vehicle must have sustained significant damage.

Brown - "I mean, if they have some information on it, I definitely want them to come forward and help my family rest a little easier."

According to the autopsy report, all of Franklin's injuries were from the waist up. That leads some to believe he was hit by a big wheeled truck or some other tall vehicle. If you have any information about this crime, please call the Nelson County Sheriff's Department .