HOPEWELL, Va. -- The family of a murdered Hopewell cab driver has established a reward fund, and is seeking donations, in hopes of catching the Navy veteran's killer.
James Wells, 26, had taken a fare to Mechanicsville on Aug. 9. Early the next morning, his burned out cab was found in Hanover County.
The Marshall taxi cab driver left Hopewell at about 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 9 headed to Mechanicsville. He was driving a gray 2004 Chevrolet minivan with decals with white lettering on the sides and rear that displayed “Marshall Cab L.L.C.” James Well's cab was found burned out in the 6200 block of Watt House Road in Hanover County.
Mailbu, Wells' widow, holds her husband's burned dog tags along with her precious memories.
The 24 hours of not knowing where or what happened to her husband was rough. But then the family was floored when they learned exactly how he died.
"They told us that James had been burned while he was still alive, unconscious but still alive," Wells' widow explained.
James and Malibu Wells
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It has been nearly three months since her husband was murdered, so she decided to take action.
"Being frustrated doesn't make things go faster, doesn't change the outcome [and] doesn't bring him back," Mailbu Wells said.
As a result, Wells established the reward fund Wednesday at Wells Fargo hoping that someone can help the family solve the mystery and find justice.
"I do feel that a reward will help bring some answers,"Mailbu Wells said. "We know what he died of, but not why or who or if this is going to happen again to somebody else."
James' father, David Wells, thinks investigators are doing all the can, but hopes the reward fund will draw new leads.
"I know somebody has to know something. Somebody had to have seen something," Wells said.
David Wells also believes that if donations come in and the fund grows, it will lead someone to come forward with the clue investigators need to make an arrest and solve the case.
The family is seeking donations, which can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank.
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