CULPEPER, Va. - May 13, 2007 - The family of Justine Abshire today announced that the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Justine's death on November 3, 2006 has been raised to $50,000, a $40,000 increase over the original amount offered.
"We still have many unanswered questions," stated Justine's mother, Heidi Swartz. "The accounts of the evening just don't make sense to us, and we're sure that someone must know something about that night that will provide the answers."
Justine Abshire was reportedly killed on November 3rd between 1:00 a.m. and 1:40 a.m. on Taylorsville Road in Barboursville, Virginia near the Greene County line in what appeared to be a hit-and-run accident.
"We are seeking justice for our daughter; Justine didn't deserve to die this way," said Stephen Swartz, Justine's father. "We hope that raising this reward will further encourage anyone with any knowledge about the events of the night to do the right thing and come forward."
Anyone with information that may be of value should call Special Agent Mike Jones at (800) 572-2260 or (540) 829-7400, or send an email to info@justineabshire.com.
About Justine Abshire
Justine Elizabeth Abshire was born to Stephen and Heidi Swartz on February 6, 1979 in Minneapolis, Minn. She spent her high school years with her family in the Charlottesville, Virginia area, completed her undergraduate studies at James Madison University and had just begun her graduate work in elementary education at the University of Virginia. She was sister to Lauren Swartz and a much loved and well-respected kindergarten teacher at Emerald Hill Elementary in Culpeper, Virginia. Justine had been married to her husband, Eric Abshire just over five months at the time of her death.