Three years after his murder, a $50,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the stabbing death of Joseph ‘Joey’ Ross.
The 28-year-old Oakdale man was stabbed on July 5, 2006 during the early morning hours on F Street and the search continues for the killer. Along with the recent approval of the reward from the Governor’s office, there is a new confidential website set up.
Those wishing to provide tips can go to the site, www.JoeyRossTips.com.
There is also a confidential phone number in place now to take tips, either via phone call or text message. The number is 996-TIPS (8477).
“The request came from the family about a year ago,” Oakdale Police Chief Marty West said of being contacted by Bob and Nancy Ross, Joey’s parents, about seeking the Governor’s reward. “The Governor’s office provides rewards in unsolved homicide cases like these.”
To be considered for the reward money, however, the police first had to make a declaration that, at the time of the family’s request, West wasn’t quite willing to make.
West said that he had to send a letter to the Governor’s office making the request, stating that the department had “exhausted all possibilities” in investigating leads in the case, with no arrest made.
A year ago, he said, the department still had some tips to follow up and were working with the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s office, to get “a fresh set of eyes” looking at the case. When none of the tips panned out, however, he said he again met with the Ross family and agreed to request the reward.
“I did that on Sept. 25, 2008, I sent a letter,” West said.
It takes time for the case to be reviewed at the executive level but word finally came down that the $50,000 reward was approved.
“The offer is effective immediately,” noted West. “The reward is for new information, voluntarily given, that leads to the arrest and conviction” of the person responsible for the murder of Joey Ross.
“You never know on these kinds of things,” West said, adding that the reward money may help spark a new round of leads for officers to investigate.
The website gives a brief overview of the case and indicates that any information provided will be forwarded to a private investigator hired by the Ross family. Oakdale Police are also involved, with the Ross family offering high praise for West in his handling of the case.
The website also includes a heartfelt message from the family: “Please help us find the person who took Joey from us.”
The 28-year-old Oakdale man was stabbed on July 5, 2006 during the early morning hours on F Street and the search continues for the killer. Along with the recent approval of the reward from the Governor’s office, there is a new confidential website set up.
Those wishing to provide tips can go to the site, www.JoeyRossTips.com.
There is also a confidential phone number in place now to take tips, either via phone call or text message. The number is 996-TIPS (8477).
“The request came from the family about a year ago,” Oakdale Police Chief Marty West said of being contacted by Bob and Nancy Ross, Joey’s parents, about seeking the Governor’s reward. “The Governor’s office provides rewards in unsolved homicide cases like these.”
To be considered for the reward money, however, the police first had to make a declaration that, at the time of the family’s request, West wasn’t quite willing to make.
West said that he had to send a letter to the Governor’s office making the request, stating that the department had “exhausted all possibilities” in investigating leads in the case, with no arrest made.
A year ago, he said, the department still had some tips to follow up and were working with the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s office, to get “a fresh set of eyes” looking at the case. When none of the tips panned out, however, he said he again met with the Ross family and agreed to request the reward.
“I did that on Sept. 25, 2008, I sent a letter,” West said.
It takes time for the case to be reviewed at the executive level but word finally came down that the $50,000 reward was approved.
“The offer is effective immediately,” noted West. “The reward is for new information, voluntarily given, that leads to the arrest and conviction” of the person responsible for the murder of Joey Ross.
“You never know on these kinds of things,” West said, adding that the reward money may help spark a new round of leads for officers to investigate.
The website gives a brief overview of the case and indicates that any information provided will be forwarded to a private investigator hired by the Ross family. Oakdale Police are also involved, with the Ross family offering high praise for West in his handling of the case.
The website also includes a heartfelt message from the family: “Please help us find the person who took Joey from us.”
