By By Adam Prestridge
Addie Belle Copeland remembers vividly the day she found her dear friend Eugenia Wilson dead at her Oak Street home.
The 83-year-year-old Atmore resident still gets emotional when she talks about the mysterious Feb. 27, 2004 death.
"We were like sisters," Copeland said. "I was the one who found her and reported it."
Gov. Bob Riley is hoping to help crack the case by offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Wilson's death.
"I hope that by offering a reward, someone will come forward and help police bring this killer to justice," Gov. Riley said. "We can't let this horrible crime go unpunished."
Copeland was pleased to hear the news of Riley's support in the case.
"I thinks it wonderful, really wonderful," she said.
According to Copeland, she spoke with Wilson on a daily basis. She said they always spoke around 10 p.m. prior to going to bed. The night before her death, Copeland said she told Wilson that she wouldn't call her in the morning because she knew she had to get up early and go to Pensacola, Fla.
That was the last time the close friends spoke.
Copeland was in contact with Wilson's family later in the day, trying to figure out where her Wilson may be.
"We thought that she might have had a wreck, but knew that she had identification," Copeland said.
Later that day, Copeland decided to go to Wilson's house. Her car hadn't moved all day.
"When I pulled in the drive, I noticed that her car was still there and it hadn't left that morning," Copeland said.
Copeland said she called family members, who came to the home to check on Wilson with her. They discovered her dead in the home. She was 79.
"I never ever, ever dreamed of seeing what I saw," Copeland said. "I have trouble reliving it. I just wished I hadn't of gone in."
Anyone with information regarding this death is asked to contact Investigator Chuck Brooks with the Atmore Police Department at 251-368-9141.