Family of teenage murder victim boosts reward to $15,000

YAKIMA — A Yakima family has boosted the reward for information in their son's murder to $15,000, hoping to jumpstart an investigation that has stalled because witnesses aren't offering much information.

The reward was increased a couple of weeks ago from $10,000, Dan Masters, the stepfather of victim Mo Adams, said this morning after a Yakima CrimeStoppers news conference.

Adams, 18, was shot in the chest in the front yard of a South Seventh Street home Feb. 20. Police said he was shot by one of three men with blue bandannas over their faces.

Detective Michael Blankenbaker said police need to receive a significant tip from someone in order to solve the case. Progress on the case has slowed, but Blankenbaker said police believe a couple of witnesses saw the shooting.

The reward is available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.

CrimeStoppers officials held the news conference to announce the release of a video clip seeking tips in a different case, the July 2007 arson deaths of 25-year-old Chris Bolton and his girlfriend, 29-year-old Chrissy Cheney.

Bolton and Cheney died in their upstairs apartment when somebody started a fire outside the two-story complex in the 400 block of South Fourth Street. A reward up to $10,000 is available in that case.

Similar video clips have been produced for the Adams homicide and other cases.

Dave Purcell, president of the CrimeStoppers board, said the organization soon will launch an updated Web site and start a program that allows sources to provide tips by text message.

The CrimeStoppers tip line can be reached at (509) 248-9980. Callers can remain anonymous.

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