Why the Chapman family has new hope an 11-year-old murder mystery will be solved
An anonymous donation to the effort to find the killers of Bill and Lena Chapman has breathed some new hope into the 11-year-long mystery, according to the couple's surviving children.
It can be difficult to keep up hopes the case will be solved after lingering for more than a decade. "You have your good days and your bad days," Jim Chapman said.
On Oct. 1, 2006, Bill and Lena Chapman were killed in their own home on East South Bear Creek by burglars who then torched the house where the couple had lived for nearly 40 years, according to investigators. Police believe the killers set the fire to cover their tracks.
The 58-year-old son of the Chapmans said his family was approached by a donor who added $25,000 to the reward for information that leads to a conviction. He said he does not personally know the donor, who wants to remain anonymous.
"Somebody from the community has seen our story and cares about getting justice," he said. "He probably knew our parents."
That brings the total to $75,000, and the family said they hope the increase will finally bring the mystery to an end, oldest sister Karen Chapman said. "You just keep remembering that it will get solved. It might be slow," the 64-year-old said. "Have patience."
The sign that advertises the new award sits on the property where the house once stood. Karen Chapman said she still owns the property but hasn't gotten to the point to be ready to rebuild.
For many years, the family hosted a candlelight vigil for the community. More recently they've chosen to make it a smaller family gathering. "It's a painful memory every year," Jim Chapman said.
The couple moved to Merced in 1953. Bill Chapman got a job at Sterling’s Department Store, where he worked in the shoe department. He then struck out on his own, opening Chapman’s Shoes in 1961 and eventually retired in 1980.
In the 11 years since the slaying of their parents, the Chapmans have seen five different detectives work on the case. The case gets passed along when a detective promotes to a higher rank or retires, according to Detective Jeff Horn, the fifth and latest detective.
Inheriting the case comes with its own challenges, Horn said, but having "fresh eyes" on the evidence could work out to be a benefit. Police continue to actively seek new information from the community and no tip is too small.
"It takes the community to solve it," Horn said. "Police weren't there. There were no cameras."
Investigators remain careful about releasing information to the public to protect the investigation. Detectives have said they believe multiple intruders entered the house and were interrupted by either one of the Chapmans. The couple was killed and then the fire was set, probably to destroy any evidence that could identify the killers.
Firefighters discovered the bodies of the couple inside the home after responding to the blaze.
"We want to keep this out there so people don't forget this is an unsolved case," Jim Chapman said. "If you have information, it could be important. Don't hold back."
This story was originally published September 29, 2017 at 4:04 PM with the headline "Why the Chapman family has new hope an 11-year-old murder mystery will be solved."