Jonathan Grioli, homicide victimMAGNOLIA, Del. - Authorities are investigating what they are now calling a homicide in Kent County. The body of 25-year-old Jonathan Grioli of Clayton was found along Autumn Moon Lane in Magnolia back in November. At that time, the state medical examiner's office ruled the death undetermined. His killer has still not been found.
Grioli's mother Tina Meredith spoke with WBOC via phone.
"My son died by some blunt force trauma to the back of the head, so in order for it to be a car it would have been flying six feet off the ground.
Meredith said despite the medical examiner's office recently ruling the death a homicide, she has known that was the case along.
"We don't sleep at night and we're not going to until this person in caught and as long as it takes they're going to have to look over their shoulder because I'm not going to rest until my son gets justice," Meredith said.
Some of Grioli's friends, like girlfriend Beth Hakes, were too emotional to speak on camera with WBOC. Some, including Hakes, are leaving messages on a Facebook page in his honor labeled RIP Jon Grioli.
In one entry Hakes writes -- "Sometimes its still really hard to comprehend that you're not here."
Delaware State Police said that although it took the medical examiner's office four months to determine the cause of death, it does not hamper their investigation. Investigators are encouraging anyone with information to call police.
