It's been almost 10 years since Colleen was brutally murdered at Ray's Grocery on White Oak Road southeast of Garner, and investigators can't seem to get a solid break in the case.
A customer went into the store to pay for gas and discovered the 37-year old clerk dying on the floor behind the counter just before 9 p.m. on July17, 2000.
From the 911 transcript, the killer(s) had just driven off when the customer discovered her body.
Caller: "We just pulled into a convenience store. This lady's been shot. We're at Ray's Grocery on White Oak Road."
911: "On White Oak Road. She's been shot?"
Caller: "Yes, she's bleeding everywhere."
911: "Did you see the person that shot her?"
Caller: "Yes, well, I didn't see the person shooting, but he sped off."
911: "Okay, can you tell where she's been shot?"
Caller: “It looks like she's got a hole coming through the back of her right shoulder blade (?)."
Caller: "I'm afraid she's gone."
911: "Okay. Are you still by her?"
Caller: "Yes. I'm right here looking at her back, looking for breathing."
911: "Okay.”
Caller: "I don't feel anything."
It was later revealed that Colleen had been shot in the head with a .22 caliber handgun.
The caller identified the suspects as being in their mid-20s with one of the suspects wearing a Hawaiian shirt and baggy brown pants. The get-away vehicle was described as a light-blue, mid-1980s Oldsmobile with part of its rear bumper missing, heading toward Clayton.
In a previous interview, now retired Major T.S. Matthews of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, who was on the scene the night of the murder, said there were few leads in the case. Colleen did not put a tape in the store's security camera before her shift started that Saturday night and a description of the car and the driver led to a dead end. The trail quickly ran cold.
Rumors ran rampant that there were more crimes in that area during that time, however, Matthews said that was not so.
Reports also conflicted about the initial motive being robbery with some saying there was no money missing from the cash drawer.
“There was some money missing,” said Matthews in a previous interview.
"It (her murder) was devastating," said Steve Duty.
Not only was he a friend of Colleen's but she had worked at his store, Duty Tire & Service Center, as an assistant manager for 13 years. He still hopes that one day her killer will be caught.
Duty said he talked to Sheriff Donnie Harrison about a year ago in reference to Colleen's murder. Harrison was not the sheriff at the time but he is familiar with the case.
"The case is not closed," said Duty. "It is still open but unless someone talks or gets arrested for something else, it's at a dead end."
In addition to working at Duty Tire & Service Center and part-time at Ray’s, she also attended Wake Tech at night to become a medical transcriptionist, a goal she reached about two weeks before her death.
Friends like Ronald Still vividly remember the night Colleen was killed.
Ironically, Still said she wasn't scheduled to work that night but she agreed to cover the shift for a sick co-worker, which didn't surprise him at all.
"She took care of her mama when her mama got sick and she took good care of her dog. I liked that," said Still. "Her mama died in 1998 and Colleen worked hard to pay off her lingering medical bills.
"She was behind the counter when Sandy (his wife) and I took our cars to Steve Duty's shop for repairs. Colleen was efficient, friendly, professional and kind."
Still said he still misses her when he walks in.
"There's something missing in the atmosphere. I still think of her, because in the areas I've lived, my friends don't get shot and killed. She brought so much life and encouragement and strength to the people she interacted with, this lost life was not only a personal loss, but a loss to the community."
Still added that they did not see a family strength in Raleigh to push for her killer to be brought forward.
“She always had a big smile, a nice greeting and made everyone feel so good. She was so excited and positive.
“Best of all, she was our friend, everybody's friend.”
Anyone having any information about Colleen Blackburn's murder is asked to contact the Wake County Sheriff's Office at (919) 856-6900.
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