SAN ANTONIO – Nineteen years have passed since Gina Marie Tovar, 28, was found stabbed to death in a U-Haul trailer. Her sister, Michelle Valdez Lewis, hasn't given up the search for Tovar's killer.
Saturday will mark the anniversary of Tovar's murder in 1996. It is also Lewis' birthday.
"It's a difficult day for me and our family because that is the day that I was born, but also the day that my sister was taken away from us," Lewis said.
Tovar was found under a pile of clothes in a U-Haul vehicle near Loop 410 and Culebra Road.
"We found out that she was brutally stabbed over 27 times and her throat slashed twice, almost decapitating her," Lewis said.
The case has gone cold and no was ever arrested in Tovar's death. Lewis vows to never give up in the search for closure and justice.
"I'm going to keep looking. I'm going to keep bugging the police department. I'm just not going to give up until we find some kind of closure we can set aside and put at peace and behind us," Lewis said.
She said she hopes someone will come forward with new information in the case.
"I know someone out there has some kind of information and I'm hoping that deep down inside that they will come forward," Lewis said.