By james art BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – A Birmingham family is still grieving and looking for answers a year after the murder of Dominic Petersonwith the pain of loss deepening over time. Peterson’s family remains hopeful for closure, but feels their calls for justice have gone unanswered.
Peterson, who was 40 years old, was found shot in the back on October 26, 2023, his body lying just off Walnut Avenue. The case remains unsolved and police have not reported any recent developments. For Peterson’s mother, Frankie Riggs, the lack of communication has compounded the grief of losing her only son.
“I just want someone from the department to let me know. That my son matters,” Riggs said.
Riggs shared that the loss feels fresh every day.
“I feel like I’m close to him. He’s still alive, but somewhere I know he’s not. And sometimes I feel like I’m dreaming and if I wake up it’s just a dream, he’d still be here,” she said.
Riggs was likely the last person to see Peterson alive, adding a painful weight to her journey through grief. She believes the investigation was dismissed as a “cold case” and her frustration grows as months pass with little communication from authorities. Birmingham police told WBRC Monday afternoon that the case is still under investigation.
“I think they just pushed it aside, saying the case is settled, that’s what I think. Because I’ve been thinking for a whole year that somebody should have reached out to me and said something, even if it meant nothing, just something,” Riggs said.
The emotional toll is overwhelming, and Riggs has found ways to keep her son’s memory alive. She recently held a memorial service on the anniversary of his death.
“I took Saturday the 26th, the day of his death, as a holiday for me. I did a lot. I performed the entire memorial service. I rented a place, cooked food. I invited everyone to come and help me keep him alive,” she said. “I tried to do everything I could to keep him alive because I still don’t know how to let him go.”
While the investigation is ongoing, Peterson’s family is urging anyone with information to come forward. The Birmingham Police Department encourages those who may know anything to contact them or Crime Stoppers, where tips can be submitted anonymously. For Riggs and her family, even the smallest detail can offer a step toward healing and closure.
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