Clinton Terrell was known as a hard worker and a man who traveled on foot. He was walking toward his residence in the early morning hours of July 31, 2005, when his life ended.

The 39-year-old became the victim of a vehicular homicide between 2:45 a.m., when he was last seen alive, and 3:36 a.m., when a newspaper carrier discover-ed his body in the 17000 block of Coatesville Road in the Beaverdam area.

Investigator Dave Klisz of the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office has been working Clinton’s case since he was found lying in the road near the intersection of Annfield Road.

Clinton, who had been to a party in the 16000 block of West Patrick Henry Road, was walking back to the Annfield Road residence where he had some possessions.

“When he went to the party, he had left from a residence on Annfield Road, so he was walking back,” Klisz said.

Clinton’s body was found about 200 yards from his destination.

“The medical examiner determined that he had died from head and body blunt force trauma, and it was believed that he had seen hit by a vehicle while he was walking in the road,” Klisz added.

Clinton had a side business cutting grass and also did some logging.

“He was generally regarded as a hard worker,” Klisz said. “He was always working and offering to do stuff.”

‘It was not unusual for him to walk long distances in the west end of the county,” the investigator said. “Since he was so well known, people would pick him up and give him a ride.”

Klisz said Clinton “was well liked. He came from a large family and he was known to walk long distances to get to his destination, so it wasn’t unusual for him to be walking several miles home.”

As the fifth anniversary of Clinton’s death approaches, Klisz continues to work the case. “I conducted a pretty exhaustive investigation. I was assigned to it back then – interviewed 60-plus people, family and residents. People had come forward who had seen him walking.”

Klisz said he was “able to establish a timeline. The investigation had progressed to a point where we did have two people testify in front of the grand jury.” While some information was provided, “we weren’t able to move forward from that.”

“No theories were really developed that could be based on any evidence,” Klisz said. He “tracked down a lot of rumors, but nothing very substantial.”

Looking back to that night five years ago, he said he “was on call that weekend and we were out there for 15 hours that day – just for the initial investigation. Our forensics investigator was out and some supervisors.”

Klisz said “There were some vehicles that we started suspecting that could be involved. They were tracked down and eliminated. We never stopped working on it, so when the anniversary comes around, it’s nice to get some attention on it.”

In an attempt to gauge the traffic in the area where Clinton was killed, a road check was done the week after his death. According to Klisz, officers were at the scene “on the same day of the week, just to see who came through there.” The check did not develop any information.

On Saturday, Clinton Terrell will have been gone five years. Anyone with information concerning the July 31, 2005, hit and run is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 365-6110 or Richmond Crime Solvers at 780-1000.