GATESVILLE – Eight years have come and gone since the last time anyone saw Hollis Frissell “Butch” Creecy alive.

However, while the evidence has grown cold over that period of time, it hasn’t deterred Gates County Sheriff Ed Webb, his deputies and other law enforcement agencies in their quest to find Creecy’s killer.

To help with that effort, the reward offered in the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Creecy’s death now stands in excess of $15,000. That marks a $5,000 increase from last year.

“Somebody out there knows something, but just isn’t talking,” Sheriff Webb said. “Maybe this increase in the reward money will get the people talking.”

Creecy was last seen by his family on Feb. 14, 2001. Two and one-half months later (April 28, 2001), his body was discovered floating in the Chowan River near the Gatesville Wildlife landing. An autopsy revealed he had died from a gunshot wound.

Since that time, Webb said nearly 30 individuals have been interviewed about the case. To date, the information gained by law enforcement officials has failed to produce an arrest.

“Our leads have basically dried up,” Sheriff Webb said. “We thought we had a break in the case a couple of years ago, but it was determined that the main suspect we were interviewing wasn’t telling us the truth, so we went back to square one and started all over again.”

Webb encouraged anyone who has any type of information on this case to please come forward.

“No matter how small or insignificant the person may feel that information is, it’s important to us,” Webb stressed. “That small piece of information may fit perfectly into the larger puzzle we’ve built over the years.”

To prove just how active the case remains, Webb said he has three binders full of information on the Creecy case.

“We want answers in this case; the family wants answers in this case,” Webb added. “It’s our goal to find those answers, no matter how long it takes.”

Those with information are urged to contact the Gates County Sheriff’s Office at 252-357-0210 or the SBI , toll-free, at 1-800-334-3000. All information is kept confidential.