Victim's family waits for break in murder case

It's been almost six weeks since 36-year-old Benjamin Oxley was found shot to death in his Wildhorse Lane home, and his older sister says not a day passes that she doesn't cry over her brother's death.

"I try to stay busy. It's been a complete nightmare," said Ann Becker in an interview from her home in Ocean View, Hawaii.

"It's been hard trying to get back on track, and I am not back yet at all," Becker said.

Despite a $22,500 Secret Witness reward, no arrests have been made and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office has released little information.

Oxley was murdered at his home at 2800 Wildhorse Lane early Feb. 21. Deputies arrived at 3:30 a.m. and found the air conditioning specialist dead of a shotgun wound to the head.

Oxley's wife Melissa and 6-year-old daughter were at the residence as well as Melissa Oxley's 15-year-old brother who was living with the family.

More than 400 people attended a memorial service March 7 at Carson Valley Christian Center where Oxley was eulogized as a devoted father and husband.

"This is not just something where you can say, 'OK, the memorial is over, we did the balloon release, it's all better now,'" Becker said. "It's not better."

She begged anyone with information about her brother's murder to come forward.

"Somebody knows something," she said. "Please, help our family bring closure to this awful nightmare. If you know something, come forward. It's the right thing to do."

Becker said her brother's friends in Hawaii were devastated.

"Ben spent most of his childhood here. Ben's best friend, James Kawika Pelfrey, and his wife Rochelle are devastated at the news as are Ben's friends, former coworkers and classmates. Emotions are flying high," she said.

"He's my brother," Pelfrey said. "It just does not m make any sense and I vow to find the person responsible for this and help get justice for Ben."

Pelfrey and Oxley grew up together playing soccer and high school sports.

"Ben was known as the 'barefoot kicker' in the small town of Waimea on the Big Island, when it came to football," Becker said.

Becker said she hopes to return to Nevada to post flyers for information and to visit with Ben's daughter Alyssa, her niece.

YOU CAN HELP

n Friends have set up an account at Wells Fargo Bank to assist the Oxley family with expenses. Donations may be made to the Ben Oxley Memorial Fund, account No. 9372308909.

n Anyone with information is asked to contact Secret Witness at 782-7463, sheriff's Lead Investigator Ron Elges at 782-9910 or the Investigations Division main line 782-9905. Information can be provided to the Douglas County Communications Center for nonemergency contact at 782-9911. The caller may remain anonymous.