Twenty years after a young Phoenix performer was shot and killed near 35th Avenue and Glenrosa, the slaying remains unsolved and the victim's family is still pressing for answers. Maurice Dupree Green, who sometimes used the name Melissa, was shot while walking north on 35th Avenue in March 2006, and no arrests have been announced. This week family members and detectives renewed a public appeal for tips, hoping someone will finally come forward.
Family and investigators renew the reward
Detectives and family members renewed the appeal this week, and as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, the family and Silent Witness have put a combined $7,000 reward on the case for information leading to an arrest. The station's coverage notes the case is now two decades old and remains open with Phoenix police, a cold case the family refuses to let go cold.
Victim remembered as performer
Friends and relatives remember Maurice as an aspiring singer and actor who sometimes presented as a woman and went by Melissa. Marcus Bellamy, Maurice's sibling, told Forensic Magazine, "He was going to be somebody," and said the family has been pushing investigators for answers for years. The loss has reverberated through Phoenix's performing-arts and LGBTQ+ communities, where people still talk about Maurice's talent and the lingering absence as calls for justice continue.
The shooting and leads
Phoenix police records list the shooting as Case #2006-568 and say the attack occurred on March 21, 2006, near 35th Avenue and Glenrosa Avenue. Investigators describe one suspect as a Hispanic male about 18 to 20 years old with a shaved head. A second male reportedly provided the shooter with a bicycle to help him flee, according to the Silent Witness case file.
Why motive is unclear
Family members and advocates have wondered whether Maurice's gender presentation played a role in the attack, but detectives say bias motives are difficult to prove without more evidence. "I can't make a decision and that's how a lot of bias crimes do end up," Detective Charlee McDermott told Forensic Magazine, underscoring the investigative challenges. Forensic Magazine also notes Phoenix PD's social-media series aimed at spotlighting cold cases, an effort officials hope will finally shake loose fresh leads.
How to help
Anyone with information about this case can call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (480-837-8446) or submit an anonymous tip online; the organization's site hosts the case page with details and the current reward. See the Silent Witness page to leave a tip or review the case file.
