Thirteen Years On: The Lingering Shadow of an Unsolved Hit-and-Run

Thirteen years. Can you believe it? Thirteen long, agonizing years have now passed since a horrific incident in Southwest Detroit snatched Sandra Lee Loepp away from her loved ones. January 3rd, 2013, marks the day her life was tragically cut short in a hit-and-run, a mystery that, heartbreakingly, remains completely unsolved to this very day. The calendar pages turn, but for her family, the clock seems to have stopped on that terrible night.

That fateful evening, around 10:30 p.m., Sandra, then 51, was simply walking near the intersection of Outer Drive and Fort Street. What happened next is a blur of tragedy: an unknown driver struck her, inflicting fatal injuries, and then, in an act of unthinkable cowardice, simply fled the scene. Just left her there. It's a detail that continues to haunt her family and investigators alike, fueling the infuriating knowledge that someone out there knows exactly what transpired, someone drove away from this terrible event.

Her family remembers Sandra not just as a victim, but as a vibrant, truly giving person, someone who poured her heart into caring for her children and, especially, her cherished grandchildren. The gaping hole her absence left behind is immense, a constant ache made worse by the infuriating lack of closure. How do you ever truly begin to heal when there’s no accountability, no justice for the person who took away your loved one?

The Michigan State Police have been diligently working this case, tirelessly pursuing every lead since the beginning. Yet, despite their dedicated efforts, despite all these years ticking by, the trail has unfortunately grown cold, and no arrests have ever been made. It’s a frustrating reality, not just for law enforcement, but infinitely more so for a family left grappling with an unbearable void, year after agonizing year.

Every time January 3rd rolls around, the pain resurfaces with renewed intensity for Sandra's children and grandchildren. They just want justice. They yearn for some peace, some understanding, anything that might finally allow them to lay her memory to rest, knowing that the person responsible for taking her life has been held accountable. It's a hope they steadfastly refuse to relinquish, even after so much time has passed.

So, this is a heartfelt plea, really. If you, or anyone you know, possesses even the tiniest shred of information – perhaps you saw something that night, heard something whispered, or simply know someone who might have crucial details about that tragic incident – please, please reach out. Crime Stoppers of Michigan is offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest in Sandra Lee Loepp's case. You can remain completely anonymous by calling 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Let’s help bring this family the answers and the justice they so desperately deserve.