LOCUST, N.C. — Gov. Josh Stein has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the death of a 6-year-old boy in 2003.

Stein announced the initiative on Tuesday, stating the family deserves justice.

Chance Douglas Smith was reported missing on Dec. 13, 2003, near his grandfather's home in Locust. He was found with severe injuries later that night in a nearby horse pasture and died at the hospital in the early hours of Dec. 14, 2003.

Investigators believe Smith was killed somewhere other than the pasture where his body was found. Numerous interviews were conducted about Smith's death, but none have yielded a lead to pursue charges.

“Even when all leads have been exhausted in a case, we cannot stop pursuing justice,” said Governor Josh Stei

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