Family, friends, and supporters gathered in front of the Streator city hall Wednesday to remember a boy brutally killed five years ago. On March 26th of 2003, seven-year-old Dalton Mesarchik's body was found near the Vermillion River. Police say he was beaten to death with a sludge hammer, but his killer has not yet been found.

This vigil serves as a reminder of the heartache.

Family friend Jenni Richards said, "I pray that Dalton's face torments that monster every second of every moment of every hour of every day, much like he does ours."

It's a message the family has not lost hope that justice will be served.
The family released a balloon in honor of Dalton, and for countless other children whose lives ended violently.

Michelle Mesarchik said, " It keeps me going, How can I sit back and do nothing when I've been through something like this."

And police want the public to know they have not stopped searching for a killer.

Capt. Jill Rizzs said, "The investigation into the death of Dalton Mesarchik is not a cold case. Agents continue to follow leads, continue to investigate and conduct interviews in an effort to bring this case to a successful prosecution."

In the past five years, police have received more than a thousand tips and have collected hundreds of pieces of evidence in this case.
Police say they follow active leads everyday.

If you have any information regarding Dalton Mesarchik's death, you're urged to call state police at 815-844-15-hundred or Livingston County Crimestoppers at 815-672-9000. A 50-thousand dollar reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.