Billboard seeks leads in Nielsen murder

RALEIGH -- Police officials joined the family of slain newspaper carrier Jennifer "Jenna" Nielsen this morning as workers unveiled a billboard seeking information about the person responsible for her death.

The television show "America's Most Wanted" secured the billboard, which was donated by Fairway Outdoor Advertising. No one has been arrested in the June 14 murder.

"We had conversations immediately after the murder about supporting this," said Paul Hickman, Fairway's general manager. "We were approached by the family shortly thereafter."

Hickman said the billboard will remain for three weeks at the intersection of South Wilmington Street and Circle Lane, less than three miles from where Nielsen was killed. It then will move to other spots, possibly including Durham.

Nielsen's father, Kevin Blaine of Lillington, was among those who gathered to see the new billboard. He called it a major step forward in tracking down his daughter's killer.

"This is a way we can get it into the public eye all day long and all night, 24 hours a day," Blaine said. "One phone call, that's what we are looking for."

The billboard, with its black background, asks, "Who Killed Jennifer Nielsen?" It bears a composite sketch of a person police want to question in her death. It also bears a photo of Nielsen and a phone number - 1-800-CRIME-TV -- for anyone with information to call.

Police chief Harry Patrick Dolan and several members of the police department's major crimes unit were also present.

Police Maj. Ken Mathias said investigators are closer than they were three months ago to solving the case with the return of DNA tests and other forensic evidence.

"We are confident that in the future we will have resolved this case," Mathias said.

Mathias said the billboard should help generate tips.

"The more out front this is, the more tips we'll get," he said.

Nielsen, 22, was fatally stabbed in the early morning behind the AmeriKing Food Mart and Exxon station at Lake Wheeler Road and Centennial Boulevard, near the State Farmers Market. The pregnant mother of two was dropping off copies of USA Today.

Her family has distributed more than 20,000 flyers offering a reward for information, and a neighbor set up a Web site. "America's Most Wanted" has aired three episodes about the murder, and the police have fielded about a 1,000 phone calls on a hotline.