Dashaun “Dae Dae” Lawson (King of Hearts, Connecticut)

Summary

The Deck Episode Summary: Dashaun “Dae Dae” Lawson (King of Hearts, Connecticut)
Release Date: March 12, 2025
Host: audiochuck

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Introduction

In this poignant episode of The Deck, hosted by audiochuck, listeners are introduced to the harrowing case of Dashaun “Dae Dae” Lawson, affectionately known as the "King of Hearts" from Connecticut. The podcast delves deep into the tragic events surrounding Dae Dae's untimely death, the ensuing investigation, and the profound impact on his family and community.

Background of Dae Dae Lawson

Dae Dae Lawson was a 26-year-old resident of East Hartford, Connecticut, known for his close-knit family ties and his entrepreneurial spirit. He was a devoted son and father, actively involved in helping his brother Darryl develop a fashion brand. Despite his seemingly stable life, Dae Dae was involved in selling marijuana on the side, a fact that later became a focal point in the investigation of his murder.

The Night of the Shooting

On December 22, 2017, three days before Christmas, Dae Dae's life was tragically cut short. While preparing to go shopping for last-minute Christmas gifts with his mother, Cynthia Lawson, a single gunshot echoed through the parking lot of their apartment complex, Hockingham Park. Dae Dae was found lying on the cold asphalt, bleeding from a gunshot wound. His mother, startled by a knock on the door, rushed outside to find her son gravely injured.

Notable Quote:
[04:30] Cynthia Lawson: "That's when I opened the door and I just ran out. No nothing on my feet. I had socks. Cause I like to be in the house with just socks on. And I just ran outside. No coat, no nothing. And Dae D was on the ground on his back."

Immediate Aftermath and Investigation

Detective Paul Sulcicki became the lead investigator on the case. Upon arriving at the scene, he noted the absence of physical evidence such as shell casings, which complicated initial leads. However, eyewitness accounts hinted at the presence of a metallic car fleeing the scene, leading to a subsequent traffic stop of a gold sedan. Unfortunately, the driver, who was later cleared, did not shed light on the case.

Notable Quote:
[05:25] Detective Paul Sulcicki: "Usually we call to a scene and there's no one there. The whole area was just full of people. Either kids getting off their bus or parents waiting to get their kids off the bus."

Challenges in the Investigation

The investigation faced significant hurdles:

• Lack of Witness Cooperation: Despite 25 to 30 people gathering at the crime scene, most were uncooperative, citing fear of retaliation.

• Insufficient Physical Evidence: The absence of a clear ballistic match and the inability to determine the caliber of the bullet further impeded progress.

• Misinformation and Rumors: The community's hopes for swift justice were dampened by circulating rumors that diverted attention without providing concrete leads.

Notable Quote:
[15:45] Detective Paul Sulcicki: "It was just names after name after name. People started to come up with all these theories. So you get multiple names, multiple theories, and you just start. It's almost like you just start going in circles."

Family's Struggle and Advocacy

Cynthia Lawson and her sister Keisha became vocal advocates for justice, tirelessly seeking answers and urging community members to come forward. Their unwavering determination highlighted the emotional toll of the unresolved case.

Notable Quotes:
[31:25] Keisha Lawson: "Turn yourself in. Eventually you're going to get caught anyway. You might as well save yourself some type of grace or mercy and confess yourself."

[32:13] Cynthia Lawson: "Nobody would never, ever know my pain. And, like, can nobody tell me how to be none of that? Because you didn't experience this."

Advancements and Geofence Warrant

In a bid to break the impasse, Detective Sulcicki employed a geofence warrant to identify electronic devices present at the crime scene during the time of the shooting. This technological approach yielded four potential phone numbers. However, investigations into these leads did not result in any breakthroughs, leaving the case unresolved.

Notable Quote:
[28:15] Detective Paul Sulcicki: "So I do it comes back with four numbers. Holy smokes. That's awesome. Because most of the geofence warrants come back with nothing."

Ongoing Efforts and Community Impact

Despite the challenges, Detective Sulcicki and the Lawson family remain committed to solving the case. Regular communications and community engagement efforts continue in hopes that new information will eventually surface. The presence of Dae Dae's name on playing card decks distributed in prisons symbolizes the ongoing search for justice.

Notable Quote:
[36:56] Detective Paul Sulcicki: "Any small piece of information in this case could be huge for the investigation."

Conclusion

The case of Dashaun “Dae Dae” Lawson epitomizes the complexities of unsolved murders, especially within tight-knit communities where fear and silence prevail. The Deck episode serves not only as a documentary recounting the events but also as a call to action for listeners who might hold the key to unlocking this mystery. The relentless pursuit of justice by Detective Sulcicki and the Lawson family underscores the human element behind every cold case, reminding us of the enduring hope that one day, truth will prevail.

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Call to Action

Detective Sulcicki urges anyone with information to come forward. Listeners who recognize any details related to the case are encouraged to contact him directly at 860-291-7544 or reach out to the East Hartford Police Department at 860-528-4401.

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This summary is crafted to provide a comprehensive overview of the episode for those who have not listened, encapsulating the key moments, emotional narratives, and investigative efforts surrounding the tragic death of Dashaun “Dae Dae” Lawson.

Transcript

[Ashley Flowers]

Hi everyone, it's Ashley and I am so excited to officially be on the road for the Crime Junkie Tour. It has been incredible meeting so many of you face to face irl, but we are just getting started so don't worry if you haven't made it to a show yet. There is still time and I'm going all over the country. We've got more stops coming and I can't wait to visit even more cities and meet even more of you crime junkies. So if you want to experience Crime Junkie live, grab your tickets now before they sell [e-mail] and trust me, you do not want to miss this case that I have. Everyone is talking about it. So head and get your tickets [e-mail] tour and I'll see you on the road Netcredit is here to say yes to a personal loan or line of credit when other lenders say no, apply in minutes and get a decision as soon as the same day. If approved, applications are typically funded the next business day or sooner. Loans offered by Netcredit or Lending partner banks and services by Netcredit application subject to review and approval. Learn [e-mail] partner netcredit credit to the.

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[Ashley Flowers]

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[Cynthia Lawson]

That's when I opened the door and I just ran out. No nothing on my feet. I had socks. Cause I like to be in the house with just socks on. And I just ran outside. No coat, no nothing. And Dae D was on the ground on his back.

[Ashley Flowers]

That was Dae Dae's mom. You just heard? Dae Dae was lying next to the car, a pool of blood spreading out beneath him. As neighbors looked on in horror, Cynthia shouted to one of them to bring a towel to try and stop the bleeding. She could see her son's eyes moving. So she just kept talking to him, letting him know that he wasn't alone and that help was on the way. Cynthia remained by Dae Dae's side till help got there, and she even stayed with him as he was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. About the same time, Detective Paul Sulcicki, who would become the lead investigator on the case, rushed to the scene with his partner after hearing a radio dispatch about the shooting.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

And as we were coming into town, it was broadcasted that a gold car was seen leaving the area, and a patrolman had stopped that gold car at a local gas station. So myself, Frank, my partner at the time, we go to that secondary scene, if you will. And patrol was interviewing the driver of.

[Ashley Flowers]

That gold car, Detective Solzicki, said that he and his partner didn't personally stick around to talk to this guy because they had a crime scene to get to.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

There was enough personnel there. So we decided let them handle that aspect. We can always go back to that if needed.

[Ashley Flowers]

When they arrived at the scene of the shooting, there wasn't much in the way of physical evidence for them to work with. No shell casings or objects left behind by their killer. The only thing that stood out was a blood smear on the side of the car, but that later was determined to be day day's. There were, however, plenty of potential witnesses. Detective Solcicki had noted 25 to 30 people gathered just outside the crime scene perimeter when he first arrived. And the sight of that many people just standing around while a victim's blood was still soaking into the ground surprised him.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

Usually we call to a scene and there's no one there. The whole area was just full of people. Either kids getting off their bus or parents waiting to get their kids off the bus. I just remember, you know, the housing project, the parking lot, and just people everywhere.

[Ashley Flowers]

But every person they talked to said they didn't have anything to offer. As far as eyewitness accounts, they didn't see the shooting happen or hear anything significant before or after. At the same time, they were hitting brick wall after brick wall. Dae Dae's family, his mom and his sister, Keisha included, were anxiously waiting for news about his condition. Here is Keisha and Cynthia recalling that.

[Cynthia Lawson]

We just sitting there waiting, and then when the doctor came in, I think I was walking out, and when I turned around, my son punched a hole in the wall, and he just, like, dropped. And it was like. And I told him I wanted to see him. Took a while, but they. They had him in the room through a glass window, and they still had, like, the tube in his mouth. And I was talking to him, and I just couldn't believe it. Then we went in the chapel, and I was just cussing. I'd be like, somebody. Somebody killed my child. I didn't want to hear nothing. Nobody had to say.

[Keisha Lawson]

Shout out to the social worker. I can't remember her name, but she allowed my mother to just be in that moment.

[Cynthia Lawson]

I just couldn't believe it. Like, somebody killed Daddy. Somebody killed my. And I just kept saying it over and over, but I just. I couldn't believe it. Like, it was just unreal.

[Ashley Flowers]

When Detective Solzicki got the news of Dae Dae's death and went to the hospital. He found Dade's family huddled in the hospital chapel, just desperate for answers. Cynthia didn't know who would have done this, but she demanded that investigators talk to Josh, the neighbor who had knocked on her door to deliver the devastating news. She wasn't buying that no one saw or heard anything. She said that Josh in particular was always looking out his window. And she was adamant that he must have heard or seen more than he was letting on. Who can resist the good things in life? While luxury is enjoyable, it's not always affordable. That's where Quince comes in. Quince offers a range of high quality items at prices within reach, like 100% Mongolian cashmere sweaters from $50 washable silk tops and dresses, organic cotton sweaters, and 14 karat gold jewelry. The best part? All Quint's Items are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. By partnering directly with top factories, Quint's cuts out the cost of the middleman and passes the savings on to us. I just got this suede bomber jacket from Quint that I am going to be buried in. It is gorgeous. So give yourself the luxury you deserve now and forever. With quints go to quints.com deck for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com dec to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com deck when investigators went back to speak with Josh, he told them that he was home with a friend when he heard what he thought was a tire popping. Now, he looked out his window and he saw Dae Dae on the ground next to the Lexus. This apartment complex had multiple large parking lots with buildings wrapped around them, kind of in like a U shape. And Josh's apartment was close to where Dae Dae lay, so he had a clear line of sight. Detective Sulcicki said that he also interviewed the friend that was with Josh. But as sure as Cynthia was that he had to have seen something, they were both equally adamant that they hadn't. And they insisted that they had nothing to do with it either. And this was the general story from almost everyone, even the multiple people who called 911. They heard a loud pop, and only after did they look out their windows to see Dae Dae hurt, either leaning up against the car or lying on the ground. And most people claimed they didn't look out soon enough to see anyone else there or anyone fleeing the scene. That is, except for two separate women who Might have actually seen more. The first woman was the one who alerted police to the gold car that had led to that traffic stop. She described it as a four door sedan, but she wasn't able to tell police the make, model or plate number. When patrol officers were able to stop that gold car that they spotted driving away from the apartment complex, they learned that the driver lived in the apartments too. So it wasn't necessarily suspicious that he was driving out of that area.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

I think there was an inkling at that scene with the gold car that he may have not been involved at that time, because I believe there was an explanation given that he was on his way to work and his mannerisms didn't really add up to someone being involved in a shooting at that time.

[Ashley Flowers]

Police were able to verify with one of this guy's co workers that he was on his way to a shift at work. Detective Sulzicki said that the driver had come from the same parking lot where Dae Dae had been shot, but it was possible that he'd driven out just before the shot, rang out and didn't actually hear or see anything. Apparently the patrol officer who stopped him also searched his car and didn't find any weapons. They checked his hands for gunshot residue too, and didn't find anything there. So at that point he was free to go and not considered a person of interest. But whether there was another gold car they should be looking for remained an open question. A second woman who witnessed more provided police with perhaps the most significant tip they'd received thus far. She said that she was cooking in her kitchen minutes before the shooting and she actually noticed Dae Dae before she heard the shot. She said she looked out a window in her back door and she saw Dae Dae parking the Lexus. She said he backed the car into a spot and that a few minutes later, a silver four door car backed into the spot next to the Lexus driver's side. Now, she described an emblem on the hood of the car that Detective Sulcicki said would match up with a Buick logo. She said the two vehicles were there for probably 10 minutes when she heard a bang. And at first she figured it was her son making noises upstairs. But then she heard screaming outside. So she looked out the same window and saw Cynthia running to Day Dae, who was now lying next to the driver's side door of his car, bleeding from his mouth. And the parking spot next to him was now empty. So this woman ran outside to try and help. She's actually the one who went to get a towel to try and stop the bleeding. And when she returned, she tried to talk to Dae Dae, but he was just gasping for air.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

So most likely he was standing at his mom's car or his car, however you want to call it. And he probably saw it coming, so he went to turn, and as he turned, that's when the round was fired.

[Ashley Flowers]

And that bullet struck his lower back. But because there was no shell casing found at the scene, investigators figured that the shooter either used a revolver, which doesn't eject shell casings, or fired from inside a vehicle, meaning that the casing would have been ejected into their car. Now, they'd already searched that gold car and eliminated the driver as a suspect. And investigators were never able to pin down any other vehicle that was coming or going from the scene around that time, silver, gold, or otherwise. It's also not clear if the two women who called 911 actually saw different cars or if they saw the same car, but just described different metallic colors. And police don't even know if that gold car they stopped was a Buick. There's no record in the report of the vehicle's make, and Detective Sulcicki just said that he remembers it being older and maybe on the bigger side for a sedan. Detectives really needed more information to try and track any potential suspects down, so they returned to the neighborhood.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

You would think numerous people saw it happen because the amount of people that are outside. So a couple weeks later, we printed out flyers, and we literally went door to door.

[Ashley Flowers]

They did that multiple times. And detectives knew people in the Hockingham apartments had day dae on their mind. Neighbors had even spray painted his name on one of the buildings in his memory. But all investigators heard again and again was that no one had seen or heard anything that day. Or at least that's what they were telling police. But what they were telling each other was a different story, because by this point, the rumor mill was churning.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

It was just names after name after name. People started to come up with all these theories. So you get multiple names, multiple theories, and you just start. It's almost like you just start going in circles.

[Ashley Flowers]

Detective Sulcicki said one rumor was that some money had gone missing from Cynthia's workplace, and maybe Dae Dae's murder was connected to that somehow. Like maybe someone was angry about the missing cash and retaliated, or some sort of dispute had started. But that rumor got squashed almost immediately. Some of the other rumors were drug related because along with $100 found on his body, Investigators had also found rolling papers, which was really no surprise because Dae Dae was known to smoke marijuana, and detectives heard that he was likely selling it, too. And that was pretty much confirmed by activity on his phone records, too. It was going around that maybe Dae Dae was the victim of someone upset that he was selling on their turf. But that tip, which came in from someone incarcerated hoping for a lighter sentence, also went nowhere. So with very little physical evidence from the scene and so little useful information from witnesses, investigators searched for surveillance video, hoping a camera might have captured something. But there weren't any.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

One of the sad things is, shortly thereafter, the town decided to put up cameras. So that place has cameras now, and the cameras are very good quality, but too little, too late.

[Ashley Flowers]

Detectives also scoured the area, but all the cameras at fast food chains, gas stations, and private residences were either pointing in the wrong direction or weren't functioning at the time of the shooting. All police had to go off of was the bullet that entered Dae Dae's body. But they had nothing to compare that bullet to, and it was so damaged that they couldn't even determine its caliber. At the same time, police were navigating a tricky relationship with Dae Dae's family.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

And it took some time for them to admit that Daede was dealing drugs. That came maybe six months to a year after the investigation.

[Ashley Flowers]

But we knew then there was the Lexus, which had been towed from the scene. It belonged to Cynthia, and she initially wouldn't give police permission to search it. So cops ended up having to get a search warrant. Detective Sulcicki said he wondered if maybe there was something in the car that the family didn't want police to find. But Cynthia said that was never the case. She said that another detective, who had apparently rubbed the family the wrong way by having a bit of an attitude, asked her to search the car while they were still at the hospital that day. Like right after she got the news that Dae Dae had died. And Cynthia said that she was just such a wreck that she wasn't really thinking clearly. So she deferred to Dae Dae's brother Daryl, who at the time told her not to answer any questions, so she didn't consent to the search. Now, police towed the car from the apartment, and when they did finally get a warrant and conducted the search, they only found run of the mill stuff like candy CDs, some coupons, and artwork Dede's kids had had made. They also found out that Dae Dae had a Second phone that they didn't initially get their hands on. It took like a month or two after the shooting before they did. But Cynthia said that she wasn't purposefully holding anything back. She knew Dae Dae had a second phone, but she just didn't know where it was until she moved his bed one day and the phone just fell to the ground. So she said that's when she turned it over to police again. She's not trying to hide anything or make the investigation. That's just how it played out. When police did get to search that phone, they only found evidence that it was maybe a burner phone that he used for selling weed. There was nothing of evidentiary value to the homicide investigation. Detective Slyczycki said that despite any bumps police experienced with the family at first, they do have a good relationship now. And while everyone is on the same page, that drugs could have been a motive for his death and might have exposed Day Dae to some riskier people. There's been nothing that's jumped out at police. Dae Dae seemed like a low level dealer, not like a big fish, as Detective Slazicki puts it, and certainly not a career criminal. He had some charges back in 2012 from a fight that he'd gotten into, and he'd been involved in a domestic violence incident with his child's mother in 2013 that resulted in an arrest for third degree assault, but then nothing after that. It's not clear if he served time for any of those charges. By all accounts, at the time of his death, Dae Dae was a family man. He was a devoted son and a father of three, a son and two daughters, all under the age of five. And he may have been selling weed on the side, but his ambitions were bigger. His brother Darrell was creating a fashion brand, and Dae Dae was really getting into helping him develop the brand, like designing T shirts and stuff. Here's his sister again, Keisha.

[Keisha Lawson]

Dae Dae wanted his own path. So I feel like he would have had his own business because he used to talk about, what do you think if we all got, like, a store? Or what about, like, an ice cream truck? Like, he always had some type of entrepreneurial idea that popped up in his head, and he would talk to us about it.

[Ashley Flowers]

Detectives talked to Darryl, who struggled to think of anyone who would have wanted to hurt Dae Dae. He told police he could only think of one thing. Have you ever had a feeling that someone wasn't being fully truthful with you when you need to do a gut check. Because you're pretty sure something isn't adding up about someone's past, you should turn to Truthfinder. Whether it's a creepy neighbor or a random phone number that keeps calling you, Truthfinder has you covered. You can search for people by phone number, address, name, email, and more. Truth Finder can be especially helpful for running confidential background checks on anyone you're planning to meet from online dating apps. If you're on a dating app, you need to be on Truthfinder too. Truthfinder helps you identify potential threats so you can avoid them and protect yourself. Millions of people use Truthfinder to find out about people in their communities. If you've got questions about someone, you need to try TruthFinder. Go to truthfinder.com thedeck for a special the deck offer that's truthfinder.com thedeck to access your special offer today.

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[Ashley Flowers]

Darrel said Day D had gotten into a fight from five years before the shooting with a guy who we're going to call Larry. Records show that the fight happened the morning of March 3, 2012 when Larry and Dae Dae encountered each other at a Subway sandwich shop. They'd apparently had some kind of previous beef over money, and on that day things escalated. According to police records, Larry was the primary aggressor and ended up with a small cut on his wrist. Police responded to the scene and the men were charged with criminal mischief and breach of peace, which are the charges from 2012 that I mentioned earlier. And this fight really didn't seem like anything major. Detective Slyczycki called it just like a scuffle. But the disagreement may have continued later that day when apparently, shots rang out at the Hockenham Apartments where Dae Dae and his mother were both living at the time. Day Dae told officers that he had been walking between his mom's apartment and a friend's when he heard the shots. And the investigators determined that the unidentified shooter seemed to have been aiming at the building that Dae Dae had been visiting earlier that day. Now, police never found the shooter back then, so who fired, who the target was, and what the motive was were all questions left unanswered. Detective Slyczycki said it's hard to imagine that someone would hold a grudge for five years over a fight in a sandwich shop, but you never know. So while it's not much of a lead to chase down, it was really one of the only two that detectives ever had in this case. And the thing that made it a little more interesting was the fact that police had actually gotten an anonymous tip that pointed to Larry, too. The tipster said that Larry may have been the one to shoot Day Dae, though in all fairness, the tipster didn't say why. And it's possible it was just someone like Daryl who remembered that fight five years before. There's no information about how Larry felt about that fight, whether he knew anything about Dae Dae's murder or what kind of car he was driving back in 2017. Because the thing is, police never talked to him as part of their investigation. A fight from five years back just didn't feel like enough of a lead for them to chase down. Our reporters tried to reach Larry, but he didn't return our calls or our messages. About two months after Day Dae's shooting, there was another tip that came in investigators did think was worth digging into. In February 2018, a guy in East Hartford who was arrested in a totally unrelated case tried to trade some information to cut a deal. This guy, a confidential informant, tipped Detective Sulcicki off to a man who went by the street name Bleak. The informant said that he was with Bleak in a red BMW and saw a gun that Bleak was selling for $500. But when he tried to take a closer look at the gun, Bleak stopped him.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

The confidential source said he was interested. So he went to reach for it, and the seller said, don't touch it because it's hot and there's a body on it. And that means, obviously, it was used in homicide. It was used out in East Hartford. To shoot Dayday.

[Ashley Flowers]

Detective Slazicki said that it took two months, but eventually, in April 2018, he learned Bleak's identity. He was living nearby in Windsor, Connecticut. So he phoned an officer over at Windsor PD who actually knew exactly where Bleak was. The hospital.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

And that Guy was in St. Francis Hospital because he was shot. I walked into the hospital, I said, I'm here to investigate, you know, you trying to sell the firearm.

[Ashley Flowers]

But Bleak just said he didn't know anything about the gun or Dae Dae's murder. And without any further evidence, that was the end of that. Over the last seven years, not much else has come in. After Dae Dae's case was put on a cold case playing card deck. Sometime between 2019 and 2020, the East Hartford police hung a poster sized version of the card in their lockup in case anyone who comes in recognizes the case and has information. Most recently, Detective Slizicki got another name from another confidential informant. The name of a possible suspect who this CI said might have killed Dae Dae due to a drug related dispute. So the detective got an idea. He applied for a geofence warrant. Warrant. This type of warrant can identify electronic devices like phones that have entered or exited a designated area during a specific time. In this case, police were looking for phones that went into or left the parking lot at the time of Day D's shooting. They were hoping if this list came back with this suspect's name on it, it might be the proof they need to back up this tip.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

So I do it comes back with four numbers. Holy smokes. That's awesome. Because most of the geofence warrants come back with nothing. I'm like, all right, positive results. Four numbers. So I start tracking down the numbers, and one by one, everyone had a legitimate reason to be there.

[Ashley Flowers]

One phone belonged to a woman who had called 911 that afternoon when she heard screaming and yelling. Another belonged to a friend of Dae Dae's family who had been visiting earlier that day and had left before the shooting. The third phone belonged to a contractor who'd been working there. And the fourth phone belonged to a child who had just been getting off the bus. None of the numbers belonged to the man named by the tipster, and that.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

Would have been a home run. Unfortunately, that did not happen, and we're just stuck with a name. And as you can see, I have plenty of names. And it's difficult with just a name to approach someone and say, you know, I want to talk to you.

[Ashley Flowers]

None of the Numbers belong to the driver of that gold car from the traffic stop either. Our reporter asked Detective Slalczycki whether any of those four people who did come up on the geofence warrant happened to drive a gold or silver Buick. And he said that the student was too young to drive and the contractor was driving a work van. And he doesn't know what kind of car the other two people had in 2017, but they had been eliminated through other means. He said his theory is that the shooter either didn't have a phone on them that day, or if they did, they weren't running any Google apps on their phone at the time of the shooting. That would have allowed them to be picked up by the geofence warrant. It's also possible that the shooter didn't show up as entering or exiting the apartment complex around that time, because maybe they didn't. Maybe they were already there and stayed there. Cynthia told our reporter that she has racked her brain for theories about who might have killed her son. And she always comes back to one thing. She thinks it's someone who lives in the Hockingham apartment complex. She called it an inside job. Cynthia has been living in those apartments for about 30 years. And she said that when someone from outside their little community, community comes in and does something bad, people talk. The fact that people have been seemingly so tight lipped about her son's death makes it seem to her like they're scared of snitching on someone who they know, like a neighbor who would know right where to find them if they did speak up. Whether or not the shooter themselves lives in the complex, Detective Slyczicki and the family agree that their must be people living there who at least saw or heard something that they haven't told police yet. And he agrees that they're likely not speaking up because they're probably scared.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

People are afraid of, you know, the person that did the crime coming back and, you know, getting the snitch or, you know, rat, that type of code, if you will. And it's not just this case, but a lot of cases. You know, people don't want to snitch on anyone for fear of retaliation, for retribution.

[Ashley Flowers]

That fear is very real. Keisha and Cynthia told our reporter Taylor that they're scared, too.

[Keisha Lawson]

I think that the whole snitch like phenomenon, like people think, oh, I don't want to be labeled as a snitch. But it's just like, you don't even live that type of life. So if something was to happen to your Family. You would want somebody to speak up and say something. You know exactly what happened. So you want us to live in, like, misery for years to come. How is that okay for us? How is that okay for his kids?

[Ashley Flowers]

Cynthia still lives in the apartment she lived in when her son died, which means that every day she lives with the fear that her son's killer could be right next door, right around the corner. Someone she sees at the mailbox or passes in the hallway.

[Cynthia Lawson]

Nobody would never, ever know my pain. And, like, can nobody tell me how to be none of that? Because you didn't experience this. So even now, I have a problem with trusting people. And I really don't trust nobody now. Like, it's even worse now because then I look be like, okay, was it your child that did it? Did you do it?

[Keisha Lawson]

Like, I have that walk around in a constant state of paranoia because you don't know.

[Ashley Flowers]

Although he doesn't often have updates in the case, Detective Slozicki and Cynthia take walks together pretty regularly. And he's trying to support Dae Dae's family in other ways too. He recently met Dae dae's son at 12 years old. He looks just like his dad and is starting to fit into his sneakers that his father collected.

[Detective Paul Sulcicki]

He's a good football player. His face would light up when we talked about football.

[Ashley Flowers]

Dae Dae's mom and sister go to Dae Dae's son's football games too. Dae Dae was a basketball guy himself, spending a ton of his childhood and teenage years shooting hoops in the neighborhood. And they know that he would have loved being a sports dad.

[Keisha Lawson]

I felt like he would have tried to be strict, but at the same time, he wouldn't take himself seriously. He always, like, had a little joke. He was just like a lively person. Like, he showed his serious side, but he always. He wanted to be more happy than he was serious. Sometimes we are at his games and stuff, but at the same time, I get sad, like, wow, I wish Dae Dae could be here. But I also picture, like, how would he act if he was here? And I could picture him just like, yelling on the field, like, the same thing we do. It would have been, like, amplified if he was here. He would have been like the team dad on the field.

[Ashley Flowers]

Dae Dae's youngest daughter has no memories of her father, but her siblings talk about him all the time. His middle daughter recently turned 10 and asked to honor her dad at her own birthday celebration. She wanted her birthday cake to say long Live, Daddy. So it did. Cynthia remembers him by keeping photos of Day D all over her home.

[Cynthia Lawson]

When I see him every day, I talk to him. And I always say, I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm sorry I couldn't help you. And he comes to. He still. To this day, he still comes to me. Like, I dream and I wake up, I'd be like, he came to me. I'd be like, thank you, Daddy.

[Ashley Flowers]

I love you.

[Cynthia Lawson]

But it's a struggle. I was with him, but I just felt like I couldn't protect him because I didn't hear anything. And that's something I fight with. I struggle with all the time. I always tell my kids, my job was. I always protected y'all, no matter what. And then I always say I couldn't protect him that day. Cause I didn't know. But I always say, I know one damn thing. He heard my voice. That's for sure. He know I was there.

[Ashley Flowers]

We asked Cynthia and Kesha what they would want to say to Dae Dae's killer if they could speak to them and what would help them feel like they have a little more closure.

[Cynthia Lawson]

Why? Why? Why? That's the question I have. Why? Why? Because Dayday didn't bother nobody.

[Keisha Lawson]

Turn yourself in. Eventually you're going to get caught anyway. You might as well save yourself some type of grace or mercy and confess yourself. Because we're going to get you one way or another. You can run, but you can't hide. I don't care if it take five years from now, like, my brother's case will be solved. Karma eats you up. Like, how do you. You can't take somebody's life and think that yours is going to be prosperous.

[Ashley Flowers]

Cynthia says whether the killer ever comes forward, she won't stop seeking justice. She tells Dede that every day, speaking to his portrait and to his grave, which she visits weekly when the weather allows.

[Cynthia Lawson]

And I be like, daddy, give me a sign, something. I'm trying to get justice for you. I'm not gonna never stop trying. That's my child. And I always say, why my child? He didn't bother nobody. I just need. I need closure. I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna be right until I get closure. I think about him all the time. It doesn't seem real. It just seemed like I'm dreaming and I just haven't woke up from my dream yet. I really miss my baby.

[Ashley Flowers]

Detective Slyczicki said any small piece of information in this case could be huge for the investigation. They're especially looking for any information about a potential motive, anyone who had a problem with Dae Dae or any vehicles seen leaving the scene of Dae Dae's murder, the detective said anyone with information can call him directly at 860-291-7544 or you can contact the East Hartford Police Department at 860-528-4401. The deck is an Audio Chuck production with theme music by Ryan Lewis. To learn more about the Deck and our advocacy work, visit thedeckpodcast.com so what do you think, Chuck? Do you approve.

[Keisha Lawson]

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[Ashley Flowers]

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[Cynthia Lawson]

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[Ashley Flowers]

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