Fort Myers murder victim memorial rebuilt as family awaits answers from police

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Nearly three months after Julia Curvo’s body was found near a parking lot on Hough Street, her family is keeping her memory alive with a rebuilt memorial as police continue their investigation.

Sandra Stephens, Curvo’s grandmother, added new flowers, a photo and a cross at the site after the original memorial was removed last month.

"I go to sleep every night thinking about how scared she must have been when it happened," Stephens said. "To know that she lied here all that time and I was searching right down the street."

Stephens visits the street weekly, where Curvo’s body was discovered nine days after she was reported missing in January.

"It's the place where I know I can come and talk to her and tell her how sorry I am that this happened to her and do the best that we can do to get her justice she deserves," Stephens said.

The search for justice has included several pond searches in the area as police continue looking for clues.

"We know a few things, and we know what's going to happen in a couple of weeks," Stephens said.

Stephens keeps Curvo’s photo in a locket and at the memorial, determined to keep her granddaughter’s name in the public eye.

"I want her name still out there. Her name needs to still be out there," Stephens said. "If not, if people forget, then it's like she didn't exist."

The reward for information leading to Curvo’s killer is now up to $10,000. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

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