3 Years After Man's Death, Grieving Mother Hopes Renewed Reward Will Help Find Son's Killer

WEST COVINA (CBSLA.com) — A $20,000 reward was being renewed for information that will help solve the case of a 26-year-old man found dead in Altadena.

"You know you hear it all the time on the news and when it's you, it's completely heartbreaking for my family, for my friends so we were in complete shock," said Helen Nieto, the victim's mother.

The last time Nieto saw her son Marcus was Feb. 15, 2013.

She left home to run errands while he did some yard work. The next morning, she got word that her son was found by horseback riders on the Altadena Crest Trail.

"He meant a lot," she said. "He was our only son. He meant a lot to all of us. It's hard."

Three years after his death, authorities still have no suspects, nor witnesses.

Detectives say when Marcus' body was found along a trail, he didn't have any of his personal belongings. Robbery was being looked at as a possible motive.

"I want to know, but I figure they will find who did this to my son," she said.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors renewed a $20,000 reward for information that will help solve this case.

Detectives haven't disclosed how Marcus died because it would hurt their investigation, but Nieto hopes the reward will help her family find peace.

"I just want to know why you did it and he'll deal with the Maker. He has to answer to the Lord, not me," she said.

In the meantime, Nieto holds onto memories of her beloved son who loved sports and was thinking about a career in music.

She asked that anyone with information call Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide detectives.

"I love him and I miss him and I think of him every day," she said. "He's always in my thoughts and prayers."