MACON, Ga. — Five years ago, a Macon man was gunned down in a robbery in his own home in west Bibb County.
The family is still looking for justice on who killed Michael Baxley.
13WMAZ staff member Justin Baxley is still looking for justice for his father. On November 6, 2017, Baxley's life got turned upside down.
"I'll never forget hearing those words that, 'Your dad has been murdered.' My life changed that day. It will never be the same," Justin Baxley said.
53-year-old Michael Baxley had his life taken from him. According to Coroner Leon Jones back in 2017, "It's a gruesome crime scene, OK? Gruesome."
Sgt. Coleman Lewis with the Bibb County Sheriff's Office is the investigator on the case. Lewis says Michael Baxley's side door was forced open.
"We did locate two shell casings, we did locate evidence that robbery was the motive," Lewis said, leaving family, especially his son to pick up the pieces.
Justin Baxley describes his father as being selfless.
"In a lot of ways, he was a refuge, I think, for some that were struggling with whatever they may have going on in their lives. He would put his own needs aside to take care of them," Justin said, something he now wants to do for his father.
"I know if the tables were turned and it was me and he was still here, there wouldn't be anybody on this Earth that could hide from him. He loved me too much," Justin said.
"This case in particular, though, Mr. Baxley's case, it is very, very solvable," Lewis said.
They're looking for that missing puzzle piece.
"If you have information on this case, even if you think it's the smallest detail, it may be the thing that breaks the case wide open," Justin said.
"I do want closure for the family. I want them to be able to have their day in court and face the people or person, or people accused of committing this crime," Lewis said.
Justin has a message to whomever committed this crime.
"Don't continue to take more and more from me, because it's a constant drain, a constant heartbreak that I have to relive every single day. Stop and really think about what it would be like with their loved one that they left lying there to die," Justin said.
This is a fight that he has no plans on stopping anytime soon.
Justin said he draws strength from "New Year's Day" by Taylor Swift. The lyrics, "Hold onto the memories, they will hold onto you," have become like a motto over the last five years.
He said the memories of his dad are one of the things the person or people who killed his dad were not able to take when they took his life. The memories help get him through the toughest times in his journey to justice for his daddy.
If you have any information, you can call the Bibb County Sheriff's Office or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at (478) 742-2330.
Lewis says there would be a $2,500 reward if the information leads to an arrest.