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Reward Doubles 1 Year After Koreatown Murder

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The family of a slain photographer has doubled the reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in the deadly stabbing of Sam Michel in Koreatown in 2012.

His family announced Wednesday that they have raised the reward from $50,000 to $100,000 and plan to pay tribute to Michel from 3 to 7 p.m.

The 25-year-old was found stabbed to death on April 10, 2012 inside his fifth floor apartment at the Sir Francis Drake, 841 South Serrano Avenue, police said.

He had suffered stab wounds to his head, and the knife was found still lodged in his back.

Detectives said the apartment complex had security video but reported the cameras weren't working on the night of the murder.

Neighbors called authorities around 2:30 a.m. saying they heard items being thrown and screaming coming from Michel's apartment.

Witnesses reported seeing a man wearing a white tank top leaving the area on a bike. No additional leads have surfaced since Michel's death.

"It's been one year and it's time to bring renewed awareness to the fact this case is still unsolved, and push to get someone, anyone — to come forward with information," family friend Bob Harris said.

The Los Angeles City Council announced the original $50,000 reward in August 2012, four months after Michel's death.

Anyone with information is urged to call Det. R. Rodriguez at (213) 382-9470.

RELATED STORY: $50K Reward Offered To Solve Deadly Koreatown Stabbing

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