Crimefighters: Who killed Michael Young?

GERMANTOWN (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia mother has been waiting for justice since the murder of her son back in the late 90s - now up to $21,000 is being offered to find his killer.

In 1998, 26-year-old Michael Young was working several odd jobs to help care for his two children.

On Saturday, August 8th Barbara Benson received a knock on her door that no mother should ever have to answer.

"I opened the door and it was the police officer and he said, 'Are you Michael Young's mother?' and I was upset and I said, 'Yes, what has he done?' 'He hasn't done anything, he's dead and I screamed," said Barbara Benson.

Young was found dead inside a boarding house on the 5300 block of Newhall Street in Philadelphia's Germantown section.

Benson says he was beaten, stabbed and shot.

"They took off his bloody clothes, put him in bed and they don't know how long he's been there," said Benson.

Benson says despite the numbers of years, she misses Young every day.

"There's not a morning that I wake up and I don't think about my child," said Benson.

To hopefully jog someone's memory of that time, the Citizens Crime Commission is administering $1,000 reward.

The City of Philadelphia is offering a $20,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

All you have to do is call 215-546-TIPS (8477). All calls will remain anonymous.

"If you know who did this please say something, don't be afraid. I want it over and I want them to repent," said Benson.