By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE – With the help of donations from family and others in the community, Crimestoppers has increased the reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for killing a 70-year-old St. Rose woman.

At a news conference Wednesday, the St. Charles Sheriff’s office announced that Crimestoppers is now offering $13,500 to anyone with information that can help in the investigation into the murder of Hilda Warren, a retired custodian for the St. Charles Parish School System who was gunned down inside her 4th Street home in St. Rose on August 13, 2007.

&#8220There is someone out there who has information which can help us solve this despicable crime,” said St. Charles Sheriff Greg Champagne. ”Our detectives will not stop until we bring this person to justice.”

Champagne said his detectives, who have been on the case since the incident occurred, have followed up on numerous leads in the case, but they are still in need of more information. He said robbery is not a motive in the case, and that the killer is someone Warren knew.

&#8220There was nothing noticeable missing from the home, and there was no sign of struggle,” said Champagne. &#8220It’s just an unusual set of circumstances and an unusual victim.”

Champagne added that the small, quiet community where Warren lived was not a place that a killer would pick arbitrarily. He said the fact that the incident happened in broad daylight and so quickly leads his investigators to believe she knew the killer.

Darlene Warren Smith, a daughter of Warren was in attendance at the news conference, along with other members of the Warren family. Smith made an appeal for anyone in the community who has answers to come forward. She also made an appeal to the killer.

&#8220Please turn yourself in,” said Smith. &#8220My mother did not deserve that. Come forward and give this family peace.”

Smith said Warren had an &#8220open door policy” with everyone in her neighborhood, and said her mother was always home for anyone to come in for food, shelter, or just someone to talk to.

&#8220Her doors were never locked, never,” said Smith. &#8220If I walked up to my mother’s house and the door was locked, I would be surprised.”

Smith said her mother lived in the St. Rose community all her life. She led a very simple life and lived for her family.

&#8220She had no enemies, she didn’t ever judge people,” said Smith. &#8220She led a loving life toward family, friends and strangers.”

Champagne said family members found Warren, bleeding and unresponsive inside her home. He said she sustained an &#8220obtrusive gunshot wound” to the back of her head, the only shot fired inside the home.

Champagne said Warren’s murder is the third homicide in St. Charles Parish this year, and said the parish only averages about two or three homicides per year.

&#8220Murder is not a crime that happens very often here,” said Champagne.

Anyone who has any information in the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-877-903-STOP, or the St. Charles Sheriff’s office (985) 783-6807.