KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — It’s been around nine months since Josephine ‘Josi’ Helmandollar and Charles Seaton were found with gunshot wounds on the roadway of the 4100 block of Skyland Drive.
The Dec. 8, 2020, shooting killed both Helmandollar and Seaton, who were transported to an area hospital and later died from their injuries.
Helmandollar was 20, and Seaton was 22 years old.
The Kingsport Police Department (KPD) does not yet have a suspect nearly one year after the double homicide. Now, Helmandollar’s family has upped the reward for identifying those responsible for the young adults’ deaths.
“Not only do we not know who, we don’t know why this even happened. Nothing prepares you for losing a child, especially being taken in a way like this,” said Melissa Davis, Helmandollar’s mother.
KPD revealed Wednesday that Helmandollar’s family, who had originally offered $5,000 to the tip that leads to an arrest and conviction, raised the reward to $10,500.
“Anybody that knew Josi, truly knew her, loved her,” said Davis. “She was funny. She could crack you up with some of the things she would say and do. Today, I try to think about all the good times we had with Josi. There were so many good times.”
A spokesperson with KPD said that the department continues to investigate the double homicide and has followed up on every lead thus far.
“Surely somebody out there knows something that could potentially provide the friends and families of these victims with some much needed closure,” Tom Patton with KPD told News Channel 11.
Davis holds out hope that one day they will know the truth of what happened, and live to see justice served for the two young victims.
“Catching the person or the people responsible for this will not bring my daughter back. We know that. But we need justice. It will bring some sort of peace,” said Davis.
Anyone with information is urged to call detectives at 423-229-9429 or dispatch at 423-246-9111.
Those with anonymous tips can submit information by CLICKING HERE.
