Police investigators are taking another look at this cold case hoping to catch her killer.
LAPD homicide investigators say they have uncovered some new clues, but still are looking for tips from the public.
Tuesday was the fifth anniversary of the discovery of Emmery Munoz's body.
"It is difficult, it is difficult, you know, because she was only 14 years old when they took her life," said the victim's father, Jose Munoz. "They just took her life. She didn't live her whole life."
Emmery Munoz went to school in Boyle Heights on a day in January five years ago. She had plans to go to a party that night. She vanished.
Six days later her body was found near 8th St. and Olympic Blvd. downtown, strangled. An appeal for clues and a $50,000 reward funded through the office of L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar produced no results back then, to the dismay of her family.
"I miss her every day of my life," said Rebecca Haro, Emmery's aunt. "And it hurts that somebody took her away from us, because nobody has the right to take somebody's life away."
LAPD homicide investigators say they have what could be an important development.
"We're conducting an ongoing investigation and we have received some recent clues that we are pursuing," said LAPD Det. Douglas Kirkland.
Detectives cannot disclose any details but they believe that the time is right to make another appeal. They are in the process of renewing the reward fund.
Emmery reportedly was part of crew of girls who attended underground parties. One had been staged close to where her body was found. But police believe she was killed elsewhere and moved there.
"We've explored that avenue and we have conflicting stories of her attending a party and not attending a party," said Kirkland.
"It brings hope and we're praying that something does come out of it," said Haro. "We're just hoping."
"If you have a heart, come out and just say you did it. Please. I say this for my daughter. You took her life. You took her life," said Jose Munoz.
If you have information related to the case, you're asked to call the Los Angeles Police Dept. at (323) 342-8960.
