It’s been more than 23 years since a U.S. Navy veteran was shot to death in Opelika and his family isn’t giving up hope of finding who killed him, and why.

Shortly before 9 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2001, Opelika police responded to the 300 Block of Third Street South on a report of a traffic crash.

They arrived to find 50-year-old Steve Edward Whitlow inside of a 1994 Ford Aerostar that had hit a tree. He had been shot to death.

Detectives launched an investigation into Whitlow’s murder, but the case eventually went cold.

At the time of his murder, Whitlow was a security guard at Char-Broil on Williamson Avenue in Opelika. He was also a Vietnam War veteran.

He left behind a daughter, Tina Whitlow.

“I had to lay my father to rest 23 years ago,” Tina Whitlow said. “I was only 20 years old, which was the hardest day of my life.”

“I feel that someone knows what happened and who did this,’’ she said. “I am praying for justice so that way I can have closure.”

Central Alabama Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

Anyone with information is asked to call Opelika police at 334-705-5220, the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665, or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).