Moline Capt. Trevor Fisk praised all the detectives who have worked this case over the years, and he agreed it was time to reveal this information. He said Griffin was the man to do it.

“He’s been the lead detective for over a year, and he doesn’t turn it off — he’s focused, an outside-the-box thinker.”

Police said they have received tips after every remembrance vigil over the years and have followed every lead. Police are hoping for more today.

“That’s how we’re going to solve this,” Griffin said.

Trudy’s father, Dennis Appleby, remembers his daughter as outgoing, fearless, adventurous and a good kid. But he said he still feels like “hell” 20 years later, adding how amazed he is by all the people still showing support. When asked what he would say to the suspect’s family, he answered, “Why? Why? Why did he do it? Why has it taken 20 years to say anything?”

He then started to cry as he continued by saying, “Why do you get to go on with your lives, enjoying things that Trudy didn’t? Why is that fair? What did she ever do?"

Trudy’s mother, Brenda Gordon, was killed by a drunk driver Oct. 10, 2014, while crossing Avenue of the Cities in Moline, near the East Moline border. She was 53.