FORT MYERS — Flowers are now resting on the spot where Coleen Egland’s body was found 31 years ago.
Her family held a vigil in her honor Friday. They’re still holding out hope that her killer will one day be found.
We spoke with Coleen’s surviving daughter, who had to grow up without her mother. Pictures are the only way Erica Platon ever got to know her.
“It’s kind of hard to tell someone that their parent was murdered, so i was always just kind of told that she was sick and passed away," said Platon.
But Coleen’s sisters say, she was one of a kind.
"She was the bubbly, bright, just happy person," said Carrie Egland.
“She was a beautiful soul. they called her Miss America when she was a little girl," said Cheryl Egland.
Coleen disappeared on December 2nd, 1989. She was found dead at the rest stop on Daniels Pkwy. off of I-75 15 days later on December 17th.
Platon was only three years old.
“I know that finding the killer isn’t going to change my life or make it any different or better, but I think it would put some closure and help my dad a little bit, because he’s never been the same," said Platon.
One by one, family members laid roses on the spot where Coleen’s body was found. In 31 years, they’ve never received a single lead, but they’ve never lost hope.
"You see cold cases on tv all the time that are being solved, and after years and years. i just hope one day that that’s my mom too," said Platon.
The Egland family said they hope advances in DNA evidence may one day help find the killer, but they also believe there may be witnesses to the original crime who have yet to come forward.
If anyone knows anything about this cold case, you can call Crime Stoppers of Southwest Florida at 1-800-780-8477.
