Eric Nelams - Project Cold Case

Eric Nelams loved to make trips back and forth from Columbus, Georgia to Atlanta to spend time with his sister.

“Being so close in age, we just kind of did life together,” said his sister, Cathy Nelams. “He was my very best friend.”

Those trips stopped 21 years ago, when Eric Nelams, age 32, was shot outside of his Atlanta home when leaving for work. He was found by his family members shortly after being killed. His murder has never been solved.

Eric grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and was a big family person. He loved Christmas. It was when all the family got together and saw each other.

“He was such a charismatic person, very lovable and personable,” said Cathy. “He was the biggest family man I knew.”

As a child, Eric played baseball for the local community baseball team. “Everyone thought he was so little, but once they saw him out there, they were in awe,” said Cathy. “Their initial opinion was that he was too little, but he proved himself.”

Cathy was Eric’s biggest fan. She loved how he lived his life. Though he was short, he was a big person.

As a teenager, he wanted to pursue a career in technology. After college, he had a son and went into the army to help provide a more stable lifestyle.

He married his only child’s mother four months before his death.

Eric was an avid fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Falcons, and the Atlanta Braves.

He dressed very well from a young age, with Cathy’s help.

“In high school, he was not put together at all,” said Cathy. “I wanted him to dress more grown and out together.”

Eric was known for wearing a proper suit with a hat.

On Friday, Sep. 26, 2003, Eric was scheduled to work that morning. But he never made it into work, and he was found outside in his carport with a fatal gunshot wound.

His wife and children remained asleep inside during the homicide but found him later in the morning.

His house was right in the middle of a cul-de-sac. The police report states they believe there were four suspects, and they could see the house from the street, waiting for him to leave for work.

Cathy said this means it had to be someone he knew since only his close friends would know this information.

The police have multiple theories. The first theory involved a love triangle. Eric married four months before his death, and his wife’s ex-husband had just been released from jail so there was thought of retaliation.

The second theory is Eric was recruited by a friend to participate in a white-collar crime. The friend’s wife could have set Eric up as a vendor so he could receive the proceeds and cash them.

The Monday before his death, the friend reached out saying the friend’s wife had been identified as a felon. They planned to meet up in Atlanta to try and convince Eric to take the blame, but he resisted.

“Both could be possible,” said Cathy. “But I think there is more to the story.”

Cathy thinks his friends were the cause of his death.

The day of Eric’s death, Cathy said one person in the yard was his friend who recruited Eric to be a part of the embezzlement scheme. He refused to tell the police about the scheme so his wife wouldn’t get in trouble.

“His friends were shady and could have shared it with people who had something to lose,” said Cathy.  “They would have feared getting exposed.”

She knew of her brother’s involvement. The friends are persons of interests, and both were indicted in federal court and spent eight years in federal prison for embezzlement. Although prison is terrifying, she would have rathered Eric go to prison than die.   

The embezzlement is a fact, but it being Eric’s cause of death is unknown.

After Eric’s death, Cathy stepped away from her church. “I was the mean and aggressive person, not him,” said Cathy. “I could not say He was my Savior when He allowed something like that to happen.”

Years later, Cathy has learned mechanisms to help her grieve. Knowing that nothing will ever take the pain away, there are some things that help comfort her.

Cathy returned to the faith knowing that being in the dark is not a place she wanted to stay. She knew the only place that offered true healing and freedom was found in God. 

To continue to fight for justice, Cathy and her family posted reward money for anyone who had tips that could help solve the cold case.

She wishes for another law enforcement officer to take and review the case. A new set of eyes could possible see something in the evidence they have that was missed beforehand.

Cathy Nelams lost her best friend that day.  Not a day goes by that she does not advocate for his case. Cathy said that it is hard to navigate how to live when she does not know why her brother died.