Steve Sanford, Jr. | 1000 block of Junell (Dec 2007)

[Chris]

http://www.39online.com/news/local/kiah-2007-cold-case-story,0,4074811.story

HOUSTON - Nearly two years after his body was found inside a burned home, police are still looking for clues in the death of a Vietnam War Veteran.

Just before 5 a.m. on Dec. 28, 2007, firefighters responded to a house fire in the 1000 block of Junell in Northwest Houston. After the fire was out, firefighters searched the house and found the body of 63-year-old Steve Sanford, Jr.

Police believe Sanford was attacked and that someone set the fire to cover up the murder.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and/or charging in this case. To leave an anonymous tip, call 713-222-TIPS or send a text message by texting TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637).

[antiM]

photo:

[antiM]

Text below from this link (also has additional photo):

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6636289.html

Steve Tim Sanford Jr. was good to everybody and would share anything he owned, said his sister, Margienell Bailey. That's why she still can't understand what could have led to his brutal death on Dec. 28, 2007.

Sanford, 63, was assaulted in his home in the 1000 block of Junell in northwest Houston. The house was deliberately set on fire about 4:45 a.m. to cover up the crime, police said.

Firefighters found Sanford's body in a bedroom, and police later learned his car was missing.

Sanford died from blunt impact to the head with a skull fracture and brain injury. The secondary cause of death was smoke inhalation and thermal injury or burns, police said.

His body was so badly burned that it took months for authorities to identify him.

Sanford, who had retired a month earlier from a tool company, lived alone and rarely had visitors.

“I'm just baffled as to why they can't find anybody who did it,” Bailey said. “I just pray about it.”