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 Maurice Green.
Marcus Bellamy cannot find enough positive words to describe his older sibling Maurice Green.
"Loving, funny, outgoing, good sense of humor," Bellamy listed. "Great-hearted, people's person, good listener, protector."
The two grew up in a group home together, and Bellamy said he was always looking up to Maurice. He said Maurice was big in local theater, playing lead roles in "The Wiz", "Children of Eden", and "Midsummer Night's Dream". And Maurice didn't just sing and act, but also modeled.
"He was going to be somebody," Bellamy said. "He was going to be somebody special, for sure. He was on that rise."
But that rise was stopped dead in its tracks on the early morning of March 21, 2006. 22 year-old Maurice was walking north on 35th Avenue near Glenrosa Avenue when a suspect, described as a Hispanic male, with a shaved head, around 18-20 years old, shot him in the back. A second suspect, also described as Hispanic around the same age, wearing Dickies-style shorts, gave the shooter a bike, and they fled.
"[The detectives] said that he died, and after that, our lives changed," Bellamy said. "Man, I couldn't. I didn't hear nothing else."
Detectives said both suspects may have known Maurice, but beyond that, this case has gone cold.
Bellamy said Maurice had another identity as a woman, named Melissa. Investigators say the victim was dressed as a woman that night, with a blue jean skirt, flower halter top, sandals, and a long black wig.
"We all are different in this world," Bellamy said. "And we should respect each other and love each other no matter what, no matter who you are, what race, and how you dress, and how you talk and act."
Detective Charlee McDermott specializes in bias crimes at the Phoenix Police Department. Though she wasn't assigned to this particular case, she was asked if it had the markings of a bias crime.
"I can't make a decision and that's how a lot of bias crimes do end up," the detective said. "A lot of possible bias crimes end up with not being able to make a decision because I have to know the perception of the victim and the offender. And in this case, we don't have either one of those."
Detective McDermott did go on to explain that bias crimes have a lack of randomness to them. They are crimes that are targeted to somebody based on who, or what group, they identify with, making it much more offensive and personal to the victim and their community. That is why the Phoenix Police Department dedicates specific resources to investigating that kind of crime.
"The pain is real," Bellamy said. "We go through pain all the time. It comes and goes. I mean I'm hurt. I'm angry. Now at this point, we just want justice."
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.
Republished courtesy of The Phoenix Police Department.