This summer, the Phoenix Police Department has launched a new initiative to bring attention to cold case homicides. "Hot Desert, Cold Cases" will be a series of videos and other posts on the department's social media profiles, highlighting cold cases. In addition, Silent Witness is upping the reward for information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the suspect/s of the crime. The reward will be $5,000 for the first four cold cases.
The series continues with the murder of Marcus Dickson.
"He loved skateboarding. Skateboarding was his passion," Tina Adams said. "He had been skateboarding most of his life."
Back in 2009, 21-year-old Marcus Dickson was riding his skateboard when he was murdered—a bullet to the head. His sister Tina said he was on his way to Desert West Park to practice for an upcoming skateboard competition.
"He had a very good future in front of him," Tina explained. "Actually the competition that he was practicing for was one of the biggest competitions that he would have done. And he was excited to be in this competition. He felt like he was going to win. He was ready."
He started skateboarding at the age of six but he would never get to see how far he could go. On March 21, 2009, around six in the evening, near Lewis Avenue and 69th Avenue, a vehicle pulled up on Marcus. Two men got out of the car, one started talking to Marcus, the other shot him in the head. The suspects got back in the car and fled.
"We have a description of a dark colored, four-door vehicle leaving the scene," Det. Dominic Roestenberg said. "No plate on that vehicle unfortunately. We have information that there was a female driver and at least two hispanic males that were involved."
Phoenix Police Detective Roestenberg says Marcus's case went cold based on lack of information at the time the crime happened. There was no physical confrontation, so the chance for DNA results was low. All leads regarding what happened have been exhausted by police. The best outcome for this case now is for someone who knows something to come forward.
"There's people that know what happened to Marcus that day and if they were to come forward and provide additional witness information or suspect information or even a plate on that vehicle that was seen fleeing the scene, you could definitely help the case," Det. Roestenberg said.
Though it's been 11 years since they lost him, Tina said it's still not easy. She described Marcus as the life of the party, playful, fun-loving, and a father. He left behind a daughter who will be 14 this coming August.
"His daughter, you know she looks just like him," Tina said. "So, we see him all over again. So that's what keeps us going as well as how our family is with one another. Just looking back at pictures and things like that. Just getting a good laugh at the good times we had with him. He stays smiling. He loved to smile. And that's one thing that we deeply remember. Is that smile."
If you have any information regarding this case, contact Silent Witness at 480-Witness or leave an anonymous tip on the
Silent Witness website. You will remain anonymous and could earn a cash reward.