Police press slaying probe

 Eight Valpo, county detectives pursue leads in Jamie Gray killing.
Date: January 27, 2005

Family, friends, neighbors.

 More than 60 of them have been interviewed as Valparaiso police try to find the killer of Jamie Gray.But a week after the 29-year-old mother of two died from 13 stab wounds, no one is in custody.

 Valparaiso Police Chief Michael Brickner said Wednesday afternoon five of his detectives and three county detectives on loan from Porter County Sheriff's Department continue working long hours following any leads.

 Brickner was tight-lipped about any suspects and how soon there might be an arrest.

 "Every lead, every tip gets our attention," the chief said.

 "We aren't slowing down. All leads will be followed, all information we receive evaluated," Brickner said.

 The chief said detectives still must work on other criminal investigations, but the focus has been on finding Gray's killer.

 Detective Capt. Curt Hawkins said investigators are putting in as many as 16- to 18- hours a day in pursuing leads in the homicide.

 There isn't an apartment they haven't visited along Virginia Park Drive where Gray lived with her brother, Jon, he said.

 Detective Sgt. Perry Stone has been using his computer skills seeking any information from Gray's computer hard drive that may help solve the case, police said. Family members said she spent a lot of time on the Internet.

 Gray's father, Ricky Gray, who lives north of Valparaiso, said Wednesday afternoon he believes the police are doing everything they can to catch his daughter's killer.

 "I just wish I had the money to increase the reward," Gray said.

 Porter County Crime Stoppers has offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the killer. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 800-342-7867.

 Gray, a single parent with a 7-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter, was stabbed 13 times late Jan. 19. She was pronounced dead at Porter hospital at 12:14 a.m. Jan. 20.

 Police said the stab wounds were to her abdomen and neck. She was found on the ground near a Dumpster not far from her apartment at 2817 Virginia Park Drive.

 Police said they have been looking for an older Chevrolet pickup or sport utility vehicle seen leaving the parking lot after the stabbings.

 Investigators said they believe the attacker knew Gray in some manner and don't believe robbery was a motive.

 Brickner said anyone with information that might help solve the killing can call the Valparaiso Police Department at 462-2135 or 464-4584.

 Reach reporter Frank Wiget at 477-6012 or fwiget@post-trib.com.