Search for clues in 12 year old murder case

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - An Altamonte Springs woman is asking the public for help in finding the person responsible for her sister's death, 12 years ago.

"There were people that drove around her, as she was in the road," said Sara Wakefield.  It's still painful talking about the death of her sister.

Police are investigating Susan Perkin's homicide which happened back in 2004.

"Twelve years ago my sister was, sorry. (Pause) So she was helping a friend of her's."

Police say a masked man held Susan and a friend at gunpoint at a business off Maitland Avenue and took their purses. It happened at around 8:30 in the evening.

"A man came in with a rifle, robbed them." 

Police say the suspect then got into Susan's red Ford Focus and made them drive to a nearby bank.

"Took money out of the account, pulled into a parking lot and made my sister and her friend get in the trunk of my sister's car."

But according to investigators, the victims figured out how to pop the trunk and jumped out here on Boston Avenue.

"My sister opened the trunk with a safety latch and her and the other individual jumped out. Robin who survived and my sister, who hit her head, she never regained consciousness. She passed away the next day."

Police say the suspect is around 6 feet tall and 180 lbs. They were able to get some information from Susan's friend.

"She had said he was a black male in his early 20s, had some type of military jacket. He was wearing a mask, wearing gloves, said that he smelled of motor oil.  The entire time she said he was very calm."

But Sara wonders if anyone saw anything, whether it was at the bank off Altamonte Drive or on Boston Avenue where she died.

"Nobody has come forward and said, 'Yeah, we saw this.'  I don't understand how a man can be in a mask and gloves and have a rifle as we were told and nobody saw anything." 

The 34-year-old woman was a mother of twp boys.

"She walked into a room and you noticed her. She was beautiful. But even more so she was beautiful on the inside."

Sara hopes to find answers, despite the amount of time that has by.

"I just pray after these 12 years somebody will come forward that is my hope today."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Altamonte Springs Police Department. You can also email Sara information to: inlovingmemoryofsusan@yahoo.com .