Nielsen family still wants answers

Thursday, November 22, 2007

(11/22/07 --RALEIGH) -- For the family of Jenna Nielsen, this is their first Thanksgiving without her. Nielsen was stabbed to death in June and five months later her family is still coming to terms with her death.

For the husband of Nielsen, there's only one way to describe the past five months.

"They've been hell to be frank," Nielsen. "It's been hard waking up alone. Going home alone. Going to sleep alone."

Jenna, 22, was eight months pregnant when she was murdered. She was delivering newspapers to a food mart when she was stabbed to death. Thanksgiving is bittersweet for the family.

"It's hard to even think about the holidays right now," said Jenna's father, Kevin Blaine. "We've been dreading them actually, but it's hard to say you have anything to give thanks for now. But we still have our two grandson."

Jenna left behind 4-year-old schyler and 1-year-old Kaiden, and a husband who's life has been shattered.

"A lot of people don't realize that once you've had someone in your life for the past four to five years, it's hard just to do a complete 180 with things and try to get on with your life," Blaine said.

Wearing baby blue wristbands, calling for Justice for Jenna -- the family is finding strength in togetherness. And they're hopeful an arrest isn't far off.

"I know a lot of people are in tune with what happened," Blaine said. "And there's a lot of people that aren't. We're trying to reach out to those people because all we need is one phone call."

Police released a sketch of a person of interest in the case, and there is a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of her killer.

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