30 Years After Teen’s Murder, $50,000 Reward Offered

DeLand resident Laralee Spear would be 45 years old this year. Instead, she was murdered at age 15 on April 15th, 1994.  The killing happened after Spear exited her school bus and began to walk home. Her body was found off Deerfoot Road, behind an abandoned house a quarter-mile from her family’s home. The investigation into Spear’s murder failed to produce a definitive lead or suspect, and so it’s remained an unsolved mystery for three whole decades. Spear’s family still seeks closure for their world-shattering tragedy, and a new push by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office is hoping to give them just that. “30 years ago, Laralee Spear was horribly murdered,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said in a video statement. “For 30 years, detectives with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office have worked tirelessly to try to bring the person or persons responsible to justice. […] We believe in our hearts that there are people out there who, for 30 years, have hid the key to solving this horrific murder in their hearts. Now, it’s time to let it out.” A reward of $50,000 has been offered by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office for information that leads to an arrest and conviction and Spear’s murder. The VSO says they know people used to gather at the abandoned house and shoot guns in the time leading up to the killing. They stopped short of directly tying this activity to the murder. Those who may have information that’s helpful to the VSO in their investigation into Laralee Spear’s murder are asked to contact the Major Case Unit at (386) 254-1537, or email ColdCaseUnitTips@volusiasheriff.gov. Those whose information directly leads to an arrest and conviction may be eligible to receive the $50,000 reward.