Ladies, always watch your back

Even at the best time of the year, the worst things can happen. Just ask JoAnn Bruno.

On this day, thirteen years ago, the unthinkable happened to a mom and her 7-year-old daughter.

They were just out holiday shopping at the mall one December afternoon. They bought some things and walked back to their car.

When the little girl jumped back in the car, little did they know that someone else was in it.

A horrible person. A monster. A man that made the mom drive to an ATM and withdraw $500. Later that night, their SUV was found back in the same mall parking lot... the innocent bodies bound with plastic ties, duct tape, handcuffs and goggles. They were also found shot and killed.

Nancy and Joey Bochicchio

It was just a quick trip to the mall. It was an errand at a beautiful mall in the middle of a busy, joyous month of the year in what is typically a very safe city.

The city: Boca Raton, Florida.

The date: December 12, 2007.

The mall: Town Center at Boca Raton.

The victims: Nancy and her daughter, Joey Bochicchio.

The suspect: still unknown.

The Boca Raton Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, community members, local news media, even teams at America's Most Wanted and Dateline NBC have poured their hearts and souls into this case since day one. I was anchoring and reporting at WPTV, NBC 5 at the time and together with my colleagues, we did the same.

Everyone wants to solve this case, on this day just as much as on that day.... but no one more than Nancy's family amazing sister, JoAnn Bruno, and family.

I checked in with investigators at the Boca Raton Police Department and here is what they shared with me:

"As the anniversary of this tragic event approaches, we continue to actively

investigate this crime, leaving no lead unturned. Detectives continue to investigate new leads and reexamine tips that were previously submitted. To date, we have looked at thousands of leads. We continue to ask anyone who has any information to come forward and call Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County at 800-458-TIPS (8477) or the Boca Raton Police Services Department’s anonymous tip line at 561-416-3350."

It's never too late to spread the word and ask for leads and tips and answers.

Ladies, always watch your back. Whether you're at the mall, gas stations, grocery store, anywhere. There are monsters out there... even at the most wonderful time of the year.