An Atlanta mother died last summer not knowing why her son went missing nine years ago.
Now, thanks to renewed efforts by Atlanta police detectives, the surviving family of Michael Way know that he was murdered.
"My mom left this world grieving and mourning for her son," Tammy Way, Michael Way's oldest sister, said on Wednesday. "I tell everybody she died of a broken heart."
Michael Way was 24 when he disappeared in the spring of 2002. His family learned on March 24 of that year that the father of four had gone missing.
About a month ago, the complex and cold case unit took over this long-unsolved missing persons case and quickly began finding some leads.
"We as a unit were able to develop a certain person that came forward," veteran police investigator Detective Vince Velasquez said. "We took that limited information, and we basically opened up a whole avenue that was unexplored."
That one crack in the case uncovered new clues, Velasquez said.
"New evidence suggests, almost conclusively that this victim is indeed dead," he said. "He was a victim of foul play."
Michael Way was the youngest of three siblings, and he had four children of his own, now ages 17, 14, 12 and 9.
"She never got to know her father," Tammy Way said of her brother's youngest child.
Investigators have identified between 10 and 13 people -- at least some knew Way -- they believe were involved in the man's death, Velasquez said. He did not disclose a motive for the slaying, or how the man was killed.
"This thing started as a kidnapping," he said. "The evidence will prove that this victim was taken from in front of 2280 Kerry Drive in southeast Atlanta, and taken to an undisclosed location, where he was killed."
From there, investigators say Way's body was taken to a nearby cemetery and buried in an adjacent wooded area.
"These individuals have been hiding for nine years," Velasquez said. "Who knows what other crimes they've committed?"
Police want to close out the case, because they believe the suspects could be dangerous.
"This was a group of people who consciously took substantial steps individually, as the collective, to kidnap this man, to hold him against his will, and eventually to kill him and then dispose of his body," Velasquez said. "Any time you have that many people who are capable of doing that, there is a concern to get those people off the street."
In particular, this death is chilling because Way was closely associated with some of the suspects, he said.
"If they would do that to one of their own, so to speak, it's not a far reality that they would do it to someone they don't know," Velasquez said.
Police said arrests could be made within days.
But until then, Way's family continues to wait and hope that the people responsible are brought to justice.
"When my brother disappeared, it just ripped my family apart," Tammy Way said. "You just cannot imagine the pain, the hurt, the not knowing, having dreams of your brother asking you to look for him."
Now, she is hoping that someone will come forward with more information.
"People know, but won't say anything," she said. "I'm hoping that when people see this, that somebody will have some compassion and speak up."
Tammy Way said she won't let go until her brother is found.
"We want closure," Tammy said. "That's something that was taken from my mom. I'm not going to give up until I find out."
Crime Stoppers Atlanta is offering a reward for any information leading to the arrest and indictment of a suspect, and callers may remain anonymous. Call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477 or call Atlanta Police at 404-245-8039.
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