Sheriff hopes social media case file brings new leads in cold case

The Polk County, Wisconsin Sheriff's Office hopes a new social media video that opens up a case file in an unsolved double-fatal hit-and-run will generate leads.

Forty-one-year-old Richard Cobenais and 28-year-old Benjamin Juarez were walking on County Road E in NW Polk County when a dark-colored Ford pickup truck hit them, stopped and then took off in January 2014.

"I don't hold grudges against them, as Anishinaabe we are taught forgiveness gives us peace," said Thomas Fowler, whose father Cobenais died. "But I don't have only one to forgive."

Law enforcement created a video that showed details including evidence collected at the scene where a dark-colored late '90s/early 2000s Ford pickup truck struck the men.

"It's time for you to come to reason and lift the guilt that has been with you for the past six years—we all want closure," said St. Croix Tribal Police Chief Frank Taylor.

Polk County Sheriff Brent Waak has only tried the social media case file in one other cold case that generated more than 120,000 views, and he hopes this new video can bring in a tip to solve the double-fatal hit-and-run.

"Getting fresh eyes to look at a case, we uncover things that are often overlooked the first time," said Waak.

Benjamin Juarez's grandmother, Shirley, spoke out on Friday asking for someone to finally call in the tip that can bring the families closure.

"I miss my grandson so much," said Juarez. "You people that are out there … if you have any kids, remember my heartache and please come forward."

You can watch the full video here. Any tips can be called into the Polk County Sheriff tip line at 715-485-8300.