Finding justice for Julia

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) - Investigators continue to gather leads in the death of a 21 year old Green Bay woman. Local 5 first brought you the story of Julia Sumnicht back in 2011.

"When Julia walked in the room," said her mom Marie. "The room lit up."

But that brightness went dark on March 15th, 2010. That's when Marie and her husband had two police officers show up at their door in the middle of the night.

"They said, 'could you sit down?' And I started thinking of the movies, when they tell you to sit down, and I'm like, this doesn't sound like it's going to be good," Marie recalled.

Julia had been found dead in her friend's Miami apartment.

"I literally felt like my heart, my insides had dropped out," said Marie.

The college junior was in Florida on Spring Break. Julia was hoping to make some connections in the world of modeling. Toxicology reports would later show she died of a lethal dose of GHB, a date rape drug. No alcohol was found in her system. Marie believes her daughter was murdered.

It's been deemed a cold case by Miami police, but the Sumnicht's are working with a local private investigator gathering leads, things like phone records and surveillance video.

"There are definitely two suspects," said Marie. "Lots of circumstantial evidence points to two individuals being responsible."

Marie wants the search to continue, that's why the family is reaching out to the community for help. In February, the Sumnicht's are hosting a benefit and silent auction at Green Bay Distillery. It's a special event Packers wife Amanda Masthay had to get involved with. The two women met in church.

"Just through the church community, we've kind of learned about Julia's story and learned about the whole situation," Masthay explained. "And for me, being a new mom of a daughter, I can only imagine and hope that I never have to feel that and hope that nobody would have to feel that."

The Packers have donated several signed items for the auction. Local businesses also stepped up to help.

"People who don't know the story and don't know the situation should come just to kind of see what's going on because Julia is somebody that, even though she has passed away, they should still get to know," added Masthay. "And they should get to know the family."

Marie said her goal is and always will be finding justice for Julia.

"When I think of Julia," said Marie. "I think of her as the epitome of the expression you hear, 'live, love, laugh.' That was Julia."

The event is Saturday, February 16th at Green Bay Distillery. Doors open at 5:00 p.m.

For more information, click here.