Authorities seek help in elderly woman's murder

HOUSTON Joyce Cleveland, 78, was found dead in her home in the 7000 block of Willowtex on June 14. Police say one of her neighbors was awakened by a barking dog around midnight. Neighbors say they saw two men with short hair entering her home through the front door sometime between midnight and 12:30am.

Another neighbor went and knocked on her door and when he got no response he called police. Officers arrived and discovered Cleveland deceased on her living room floor in her home.

One neighbor's surveillance camera also recorded a car passing slowly in front of her home shortly before the attack. Police are not saying if there is a connection.

Today, her family pleaded for help solving the crime.

"We just need this resolved. We need closure in this, our family needs it. So anybody who has information, please come forward because the cowards that did this need to pay," said the victim's son, Emmett Cleveland.

Emmett went on to say, "What happened makes no sense. If somebody in need would've asked, my mother would have given them anything they needed. These people have taken from us more than I can express here."

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-8477 (TIPS) hotline or submitted online at Crime-Stoppers.org that leads to an arrest in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message - Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES(274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.