Philadelphia has nearly 5,000 open homicide cases. Some families still cling to hope.

Nearly 20 years have passed since 18-year-old Ericka Brair disappeared from Philadelphia. Her mother Janice Krause estimates it has been about 10 years since a homicide detective last contacted her about the case. She has moved to Missouri and waited through several detective changes and has been promised a callback.

“Every time I would contact the police, they’d say, ‘Well, so-and-so is not handling it now. Hold on. We’re going to connect you with somebody that does,’” Krause told the Tribune. Read more.