FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio (WJW) - A high profile double homicide cold case is heating up after five long years.
The shooting deaths of Carnell Sledge, 40, and his good friend Katharine “Kate” Brown, 33, will be featured Oct. 2 on Netflix's "Unsolved Mysteries," giving their families renewed hope that the killer will finally be caught.
“Now that Kate and Carnell are getting the national spotlight and attention that they deserve, we’re hoping that it sparks some conversations and we can get some tips and leads,” said Lauren Rao, Kate’s sister.
On June 4, 2019, Carnell and Kate were sitting on a park bench in the Rocky River Reservation just around the corner from Big Met Golf Course when someone shot them from behind between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
That is a very busy time at the park and their families have always believed that someone out there knows something that could crack the case.
“We believe someone knows something,” said Rao. “Cyclists riding their bikes, kayakers, people walking dogs, there has to be more information.”
Local, state and federal investigators have followed up on hundreds of tips, including one to the FOX 8 I-team about a woman wearing a green hoodie, cuffed jeans, white socks and black walking shoes.
A $100,000 reward is also being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of those responsible, but so far nothing has lead to an actual suspect or an arrest in the case.
“It is absolutely impossible that no one saw or heard anything,” said Rao.
Along with the Netflix special, the families have a local effort underway to garner attention to the case.
Yard signs and flyers are available for people to post and share.
People can pick them up at both the Olmsted Township Police Department, located at 26900 Cook Road, and Fairview Park Police Department, located at 20777 Lorain Road.
“At the time of the murder, Kate was a resident of our city,” said Fairview Park Police Chief Paul Shepard. “So anything we can do, we’re here to help.”
Also tying into that effort and the Netflix special, Lauren says they have ramped up social media pages, including Facebook, to keep people posted on updates and allow people to send them tips as well.
“We’re hoping with the page more people can get information about not only the case but the wonderful human beings these two people were,” she said.
They say they won’t rest until they get justice for Kate and Carnell, not only for their families, but everyone in the community.
“The biggest thing for me and my family is this wouldn’t happen to another family or person so they wouldn’t have to live with the pain we feel every single day,” said Rao. “So if we can prevent that, that would mean the world to us.”
A reward of $100,000 is being offered in the case. Anyone with a tip can call Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7463. Tipsters can remain anonymous and can also send information through the family's Facebook page.