BUTLER COUNTY, Kan. (KAKE) - Over twenty-five years worth of pain filled the eyes of Blanca and Frank Harrod, as they met with KAKE's Hannah King at the Butler County Sheriff's Office. The Harrods have been fighting for justice in their son's case since he was killed in 1997. 

While convictions have resulted in jail time for those responsible, their son's body has never been found. 

Investigators haven't stopped looking for Franklin "Punkie" Harrod either. 

"There is someone out there that knows where my son is buried," Blanca Harrod, Franklin "Punkie" Harrod's mother said. "It's been almost 26 years, somebody out there knows. We miss him something terrible."

"They took him away from us, the best they could do is give him back to us," Frank Harrod, Punkie's Dad said. 

Punkie's parents say he's missed out on a lot since he's been gone. 

"I just wish someone out there can come out there and say:  "We have information where your son is located." So we can lay him to rest and have some closure," Blanca added.

People have been charged, convicted and sentenced in this case, but it has never been completely closed.

It all began when Franklin "Punkie" Harrod reportedly vanished in July of 1997. His wife Kelly told investigators that he left to buy cigarettes and never returned to the Rose Hill home they shared.

The case eventually turned into a murder investigation when it was discovered that Kelly may have solicited Jerry and Tammy Trussell to help kill Punkie and bury his body.

In 2005, Kelly (Punkie's wife), along with the Trussells were all arrested, convicted, and sentenced to prison for their roles in Punkie's death.

"It's been 25 years, coming up on 26, June, where they haven't seen their son. That's why we are here today to ask the public for any info," Butler County Sheriff, Monty Hughey told KAKE's Hannah King.

Investigators, over the last year, have reignited their efforts in recovering Punkie's remains.

"Throughout that effort, we have met with one of the responsible people that was convicted in this case and they've provided information of a location in the southern part of Butler County where he admits to be participating in the burying of this individual," Detective Glenn Hopper said. 

Investigators now have new information and the tragedy doesn't end with Punkie.

"He was just your average neighborhood kid," Regina Davis said.

It's where this case takes another tragic turn.

Davis says it's been torture wondering for the last 30 years what happened to her brother, Rickey Nelms. He's been missing for 35 years. 

"Throughout that interview process with that individual, he allowed us to identify a second missing person case that was in 1988," Det. Hopper said. 

Rickey Nelms left Alabama to move to Kansas in February of 1988. After not hearing from him in months, his mother reported him missing. He was last heard from in Sedgwick County. 

"It will be 36 years in February. It is time. It is time for something to be told. It's time for Rickey's story to be told. It might not be a pretty story along the way," she said. "... but it's time for justice to be served."

Davis, who lives out of state, says who her brother left town with, wasn't anything unusual. After all, they all grew up right across the street from one another in Moulton, Alabama.

"It (roofing) was something he had been doing for 6 months to a year. They all roofed together in Alabama and they went to Kansas."

Davis says Rickey found work in Kansas repairing roofs and she says thats what they were doing, or so she thought.

"My mom reported him missing in July of 1988. That's the last time we heard or seen him was when he left going back to Kansas in February."

She says she is trying to find answers her mother never received.

"She will be gone two years, the 21st of this month." She said. "I need a body for closure, so I can put this to rest and so I can let my momma rest in peace."

"I think it's only a matter of time before they (investigators)  find what they are looking for. Somebody, somewhere, will come forward eventually and give them that little boost they need to complete this."

She says people in Alabama know what happened.

"I feel for that family also. They would like to know where their son is at," Blanca Harrod said about the Nelms Family.

"That individual has admitted to burying both of those, one in 1988. One in 1997," Det. Hopper said.

Over the last year, investigators have been leading to a massive area in southern Butler County where the two might be, but they are hoping the public will help them narrow down exactly where.

"Details that we've had are how they are buried, direction-wise, but we have not yet recovered any of the remains," Det. Hopper added.

"I think there is somebody out there or more than one that knows the location of where the subjects are buried," Sheriff Hughey added.

The Harrod and Nelms families say laying their loved one to rest is what is next in their respective cases.

We'd like to have a bit of closure." Blanca said. "Until we bury him or before we die. I'd like to do that before I die."

Det. Hopper said there are people out there, in both cases, who can help with the investigation.

"With the amount of people they knew and are still active and in the area, we believe they've discussed this," he shared. "We will take any information in any way we can get it, if it helps us get to the remains."

"In our '97 case, people have been prosecuted and convicted. So there's nothing else to gain there other than to locate the remains. We just need to step forward and identify where that is at for us," he added.

Frank Harrod isn't giving up hope either on them finding his son, but he's hoping it happens sooner rather than later.

"One day you guys will find something... I might be gone, but just tell my kids and grandkids."

"Well don't give up just yet..." Det. Hopper said back to him.

Investigators are hoping anyone with any information that could help bring closure to these families will share it with them. 

"I just hope whoever sees this can fully understand how desperate we are to find him," Regina said.

"What more would we want for Christmas?", Blanca asked. 

You can leave a tip with the Butler County Sheriff's Office by emailing crimetips@bucoks.com.

You can also submit a tip with Sedgwick County by emailing coldcase@sedgwick.gov.

Sedgwick County's Cold Case hotline is (316) 660-3799.

No one has been arrested or charged in the death of Rickey Nelms. 

In Punkie's case, Kelly Harrod was sentenced in June of 2006 on a charge of solicitation to murder in the first degree. She was discharged in 2011.

Tammy Trussell was charged with conspiracy to murder and voluntary manslaughter. She was sentenced in 2006, spent 11 years detained and was released in March of 2017.

Jerry Trussell was convicted on charges of aiding and abetting murder and conspiracy to murder in the first degree. He was sentenced in August of 2007 to life in prison.

Here are a few stories from 2005-2008 with previous KAKE coverage on the case from the courtroom.