At first police thought Stephen Belle died in a hit and run accident. But after an autopsy, the medical examiner ruled the cause of death a homicide.
Belle died on December 20, 2013. Police have been putting up flyers in the area asking for help solving the case. They say Belle was riding his bike across the 900 block of Normandy, just north of I-10 just after 7pm. It was dark, but surveillance video from a nearby gas station captured northbound traffic that quickly started to back up as Belle collapsed in the roadway.
Eyewitnesses at the time reported seeing a vehicle as it left the scene moments after Belle fell. But police couldn't explain why his bicycle wasn't more damaged if it was a hit and run. And the autopsy showed otherwise.
Houston police investigator Richard Martinez said, "Until the investigation of the medical examiner's office, once they found their evidence, then they called us and that's when we knew it was more than just a hit and run. Looking into it further, we found there was no damage to the bicycle and everything points to it being a homicide."
Police say Belle was homeless and often cleaned vehicle windows in the area where he died. His squeegee and rags were found near him. He died that night in December after being rushed to the hospital.
Police are having such a hard time with this case because they didn't determine foul play was involved until almost three weeks after the fact. The scene, by that time, was gone.
Crime Stoppers is offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to arrest of filing of charges against his killer. Anyone with information is asked to call 713-222-TIPS, Text TIP610 to CRIMES (274637) or go to Crime-Stoppers.org
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