NIXA, Mo. (AP) - The mystery surrounding the death of a southwest Missouri man has only deepened in the five years since he was found lying with a tire mark across his torso on a highway in Nixa. Investigators have no suspects and little evidence in the death of Gerald Dunn and say the best chance of solving the case is if someone comes forward with information.
Dunn, 23, was found dead on Missouri 14 in Nixa early on July 11, 2006. Officials said he died of internal injuries.
Nixa Police Detective Jason Hartsell, the third investigator on the case, said little evidence was found at the scene. Police marked the fifth anniversary of Dunn's death by appealing for someone to provide information.
"We just mainly need a lot of help from the public," Hartsell said. "It's been five years. We just need someone to come forward - somebody who knows something."
Dunn's mother, Gwen Ward, said it has been difficult not knowing why or how her only son was killed.
"I'm hoping the person who did it can own up and accept what they've done and be able to acknowledge (it) and let us have some peace," she said.
One of the biggest mysteries is why Dunn was on Missouri 14 around 1 a.m. that day, The Springfield News-Leader reported Tuesday.
He had been at a friend's house, but began walking home because he had been drinking and his friends wouldn't let him drive, Hartsell said. How his body ended up on a road leaving Nixa stumps investigators.
"There was no reason at all for him to be walking toward Ozark," Hartsell said. "He may have just wandered down there, but still, someone has to know something."
The death could have been a homicide or an accident, Hartsell said, adding that an intoxicated driver might have hit Dunn and either didn't realize it or panicked and dumped his body on the highway. He said Dunn's death will be treated as a homicide until investigators have evidence to prove otherwise.
"Hopefully, whoever did this, whether it was an accident or not, has a conscience and would tell somebody or turn themselves in," Hartsell said. "Then we can talk about whether they're in trouble or not. Obviously, someone has to answer for something like that."
Dunn's best friend, Andy Romejko, said he couldn't believe someone would want to hurt Dunn.
"He was the coolest friend you could ever want," he said. "Somebody who always had your back. Somebody who would always be there for you."
Ward said if it was an accident, she would be able to forgive whoever was responsible.
"There's some anger, but I turn to God," she said. "I'm a forgiving person."