Anniversary Of Ella Crawley's Death Did Not Result In Promising Leads, Investigators Say

Winston-Salem police say a recent string of news stories about the unsolved murder of Ella Crawley failed to lead to anything useful to the investigation.

Crawley died in late May of 2020, about the same time the death of George Floyd was making news nationwide. Both cases led to local gatherings in protest and remembrance.

Investigators say media reports on the anniversary of her death did not develop into any promising new leads.

Crawley was found badly beaten in Gateway Commons Park. She later died at a local hospital. An autopsy revealed she had also been strangled.

The park is largely an open greenway but there are woods that block parts of it from view.

Police say they've struggled to find anyone willing to come forward with information. Weeks after Crawley's death, a canvas of the neighborhood around the park also failed to turn up any worthwhile leads.

Police have recently stepped up their efforts to encourage witnesses to speak up if they have any information that could help solve violent crimes in the city. Investigators say that's the only way cases like Crawley's will be solved.