It's been more than six months since Jonathan Carson, 24, was found shot to death inside his Elizabeth City home.
Since then, father Bob Carson and mother Jeri Carson, have been reeling from the death, trying to make sense of the senseless.
"He was my buddy and my son. Now he's gone. I just - I just can't imagine taking someone else's life like that," Jeri Carson said through tears. "I hope they see his face every time they close their eyes just like I do."
The holiday season - first Thanksgiving and more recently Christmas - has been extremely tough.
"I didn't get out any of the Christmas stuff. I did put up a tree - but I had to buy all new ornaments. I could not get out the stockings," explained Jeri Carson.
Both Jeri and Bob Carson believe that someone knows who killed their son and they are hoping additional reward money will encourage tips to police.
In early October, employees at Bob's restaurant "Bob-B-Q" approached him with an idea to raise money for the reward.
They held a fundraiser selling barbecue, all working for free, with all the proceeds going towards the reward fund.
"People were driving up and buying two plates and giving us $100 and driving off," Bob explained.
The fundraiser has raised close to $8,500 for a supplemental reward with the Crime Line - money Bob Carson wants to go towards rewarding whoever calls in the information that leads to his son's killer being caught.
"It's a shame that you have to put money out to bring someone forward but be that as it may - the old say is money talks - so that's why it's there," Bob Carson explained.
