Family and friends dedicated a solemn prayer for Arica Schneider, a friend and daughter lost. And, as they've done every year for the past five years since her death, they gathered together and remembered.

Arica's mother, Robin Nold said, "To keep her memory out there, we're not going to forget, I think she at least deserves this. I just feel we owe it to her."

Schneider and her boyfriend were murdered in their apartment on Brunswick Road back in 2001. Local and federal authorities investigated, but came up empty-handed. Their families offered reward money for any information leading to the arrest of Schneider's killer, and now, local legislators and a community member have pledged another $1,000.

Arica's father, Paul Schneider said, "You can't give up hope, if this is the last thing we can do for Arica is find her murderers, so she can rest in peace."

Rensselaer County Legislator and Chairman Neil Kelleher said,
"Anybody who knows Paul knows this is not about vengeance. This is about Paul finding peace and closure and trying to make sure whoever is responsible for this gets taken off the street."

And while family members said they'll never give up hope, they also said the unsolved murder has been a difficult weight to carry.

Nold said, "I'm losing my patience, I don't understand what the problem is at this point. I have a lot of unanswered questions. I have for the past five years, and that eats away at you."

The Troy Police Department says this is very much an open and active case, and they have a dedicated team working on it day in and day out.