Monroe mystery continues in unsolved murder of 5-year-old Nevaeh

MONROE, Mich. (WJBK) - A 5-year-old girl murdered her body dumped next to a river in Monroe.

By now seven years have gone by and the case is still unsolved. But Nevaeh Buchanan's family has not given up the fight.

The group Justice For Nevaeh and Nevaeh's family plan to march to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office demanding answers. The last they had heard, was that someone who authorities believe is responsible was taken into custody on unrelated charges.

That was two years ago.

"The whole community of Monroe needs closure," said Carla Nash, her grandmother. "Not just our family, the whole community of Monroe technically her murderer is still out there."

Not knowing who killed 5-year-old Nevaeh Buchanan still keeps her grandmother up at night.

It has been nearly 7 years since little Nevaeh disappeared outside her mother's Monroe apartment complex.

The community instantly came together searching and praying for her safe return, but sadly two weeks later a fisherman discovered her body buried on the banks of the River Raisin.

Two men, who were close to her mother and were also convicted sex offenders, were arrested on probation violations and questioned about Nevaeh's murder - but never held responsible.

To this day Nevaeh’s case remains unsolved.

"We have nothing and we just want to know why, who," Nash said.

"More of a gut wrenching this could be my child," said Risa Smith. "This could be my child."

Risa Smith helped create Justice For Nevaeh - a group of volunteers which have been pleading for information from the public to solve this heart wrenching case.

In 2014, Monroe's local paper revealed a person police believe killed Nevaeh was in prison on unrelated charges. Smith claims investigators told her the same.

"We were told they were pretty sure he was responsible for the abduction and murder of Nevaeh," Smith said. "But that he was in prison on domestic violence charges."

Two years later - no conviction and no answers.

That's why Justice for Nevaeh is holding a rally Saturday at 3 p.m. walking from St. Mary's Park to the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.

As the anniversary approaches, they want the mystery surrounding Nevaeh's death to be solved once and for all.

"For answers," Smith said. "That's the last thing we've heard on this case was that they have somebody in jail . That's not enough to say we have somebody responsible but we don't want to divulge any more information. That is not enough."

"Nevaeh is gone," Nash said. "She was my granddaughter she is gone, we can't bring her back. But my son, he hurts and he needs closure."

There is still a $50,000 reward for anyone who provides information leading to an arrest created by money from the FBI, Crime Stoppers, an anonymous donor and Justice For Nevaeh. if anyone has any information call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP you can stay anonymous.