Slain woman's family continues search

The family of Jennifer Kathleen Nielsen will pass out fliers Saturday and hold a vigil Monday as they encourage people to come forward with leads that could help police find her killer.

Nielsen, 22, a newspaper carrier for USA Today, was stabbed while dropping off papers at the AmeriKing Food Mart and Exxon station at Lake Wheeler Road and Centennial Boulevard on June 14. Nielsen was eight months pregnant with her third child.

At 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Nielsen's husband, Tim Nielsen, and her father, Kevin Blaine, will pass out fliers at Carolina Pines Park at 2305 Lake Wheeler Road.

The family announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Nielsen's death. Last weekend, Nielsen's family and friends distributed fliers at the State Farmers Market, which is across the street from where Nielsen died.

The flier contains a composite sketch released by Raleigh police of a man wanted for questioning and the number for a special tip line created by the police department: (919) 227-6220

The family will hold a vigil at 7:30 p.m. Monday, the day after Nielsen was due to give birth to Ethen Asdyn Nielsen. The vigil will be held at the Bicentennial Mall downtown.

On Tuesday, there will be a press conference regarding House Bill 263, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act.

Unlike many states, North Carolina does not have a fetal homicide law. Prosecutors are restricted by a 1989 state Supreme Court ruling that said killing a fetus by harming the mother does not amount to murder.

House Bill 263 seeks to change that. Under the bill, a person accused of the murder or manslaughter of a pregnant woman would also be charged separately in the death of the unborn child. The bill would also criminalize injuring a pregnant woman and causing a miscarriage or stillbirth.

The bill was filed in February and has been referred to a House judiciary committee.