ORANGE, Texas — Galveston County Sheriff's Office investigators received a new development in the 17-year-old murder case of an Orange mother.
Bridgette Gearen was found deceased on Crystal Beach back in 2007.
Brandon Portie, fiancé of Gearen, says that the Galveston County Sheriff's Office told him several times over the last 17 years that they were close to cracking the case.
Portie is still holding on to hope that they will solve the murder case.
"Something needs to be done. I'm tired. We kind of separated ourselves from the whole situation because it got too much," said Portie. "People would recognize me and ask me questions over and over."
The 28-year-old rented a vacation house on Crystal Beach with her 2-year-old daughter, Kyra, friends and co-workers at the time.
"I'm walking to this beach cabin with a bunch of people she's supposed to be with and she's not there," said Portie.
Portie was at home when he received the phone call that changed his life.
"I'm having to pick up my kid and basically take over full duty all the time for the rest of her life," he said.
Gearen and her friends made plans to hang out on the beach just before midnight on a Saturday, according to the Galveston County Sheriff's Office.
She walked out of the house alone and was never seen alive again.
The sheriff's office stated that they received a major update.
"We do have a major development in the last year," said Lieutenant Tommy Hansen.
Lieutenant Hansen was the first detective on the scene when Gearen's body was discovered. He has led the investigation for the last 17 years.
"On a case like this you want to make sure that everything is perfect," he said. "We're lacking a few things but we're working diligently to try to put closure to this case."
Lieutenant Hansen says that the new evidence obtained in the past year could help solve the 17-year-old case.
"We're working diligently with the DA's office and trying to cross all the T's and dot all the I's," he said.
Back in 2007, several tourists joined searches throughout the night. Gearen's body was found early in the morning, in the sand near the water's edge.
She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled.
"This case has never been, all these years, has never been a cold case," said Lt. Hansen. "It's an old case, but it's never been a cold case."
Gearen's loved ones just want answers and justice.
"I really want these guys names to be in the paper. I want people to know who it is," said Portie. "Or at least who's a suspect because these guys are walking around free just living their life."
No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed for past suspects.
Gearen's daughter is now 19-years-old and is attending Austin Community College.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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