SOLVING TRIPLE MURDER IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS

Family and friends of Sherry Scheper are putting together a reward for information leading to the arrest of her killers. In a case where promising leads have been few, this seems a constructive way to help move the investigation forward. Scheper and her two sons were the victims of a triple-homicide Aug. 9. No arrests have yet been made in the case.

The investigation into the murders is continuing, but the police can only do so much. They need information and that can come from the community.

This reward may be just the thing to crack open this baffling case. It's just human nature money talks. Police departments by law cannot sponsor reward funds, which is why the burden often falls on family and friends. But reward contributors don't have to be limited to people who knew the Schepers. We all have a stake in seeing this murder solved. We must make sure these murderers don't strike again.

The police need our help. Anyone who knows information no matter how trivial it seems should share that knowledge with the police. What may seem an insignificant detail could be the key to solving this horrific crime.

As one friend of the family said, we can't just turn our heads and pretend this didn't happen. Three people were brutally murdered in our town. Drugs were involved. The victims were stabbed and shot. The mother was severely beaten. It was an ugly, big-city crime that happened right here.

Friends and family of the Schepers are trying to do something positive to move this case closer to an arrest. Time is an enemy in any investigation. A cold trail is much harder to follow. That's why community help and support are so crucial right now.

Businesses and individuals can help build the reward money in this case making it more enticing to those with information. Family and friends hope to raise $10,000, but they can't do it alone. Donations to the fund can be made in care of Capital Bank, 325 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.

Now is also the time for people with information to come forward. Police said two of those killed were innocent victims, not involved in drug trafficking. It's not just someone else's worry. As a community, we must do all we can to help solve this terrible crime. Our collective peace of mind will be influenced by the outcome.