The mother of a 26-year-old man murdered in 2010 increased the reward fund on Friday for information on her son’s death.
On Valentine’s Day of 2010, 26-year-old John Valdivia was shot and killed while delivering a heart-shaped pizza to his fiancée and newborn son at his house on Richmond Avenue.
Previous story: Valentine's Day homicide still unsolved, family holds annual benefit to increase reward tips
Six years later, Valdivia’s mother, Guadalupe Rennau, continues to hope someone will come forward with information on her son’s death.
“Every day, there's not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my son. It’s hard," she said.
On Friday, Rennau showed pictures and paintings of her son from over the years.
She said her son was known for his hearty laugh and for how giving he was.
“[He was] a fun person,” Rennau said. “All of his friends loved him, loved being around him."
Her son’s death has weighed heavily on her since the tragedy, and she explained how even the weather can remind her of the fateful day.
“The day he died, it was cold and rainy,” she said. “That kind of brings back everything."
Over the years, Rennau said she has been given little details and updates regarding the investigation into her son’s death.
“It's a slow moving thing,” she said. “They can't tell me anything because that would jeopardize the case."
With Valdivia’s son now six years old, she hopes increasing the reward fund will help lead to answers about his father’s death.
“Do it for his son who was left here,” Rennau said. “He never knew his dad. He knew him for 10 days and he was killed."
Despite hardly knowing his father, Rennau explained how Valdivia’s son shows resemblance to John.
“He’s just like him,” she said. “[He] always has a big smile on his face."
After living with the pain of the tragedy for six years, Rennau said she will not stop hoping for justice.
“I don't want it to just die out,” she said. “I want everyone to know that I'm not going to give up. His family is not going to give up."
The reward fund for information on Valdivia’s death now totals $16,000.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers Greater Kansas City TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477), TIPS may also be submitted electronically at KCcrimestoppers.com, or by texting TIP452 and your information to 274637 (CRIMES).
