In 2003, 32-year-old Army veteran Eric Nelams was gunned down in his own driveway in Phenix City, Alabama. Despite connections to a major fraud scheme and clear signs of premeditation, no one has ever been arrested.

This week, we share Eric’s story — who he was, what happened, and how his family has spent over two decades fighting for answers. The case remains open, but justice has yet to be served.

Thank you to Eric's family for sharing his story with us. 

• If you have any information on Eric's murder, contact Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP. They also have an online form.

• You can also contact the Phenix City Police Department at 334-448-2800. Their email for tips is [email protected]. A $15,000 reward is being offered for arrest and conviction.

• Sign the family’s petition

• Follow the family on social media

• https://www.instagram.com/justice.for.eric.nelams/

• https://tiktok.com/@justice.for.eric.nelams 

• https://linktr.ee/justiceforericnelams 

 

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Sources:

1. https://www.citizenofeastalabama.com/news/a-deep-hurt-the-eric-nelams-story/article_5ae254c8-4457-11ef-841d-430be96a66a3.html

2. https://www.wtvm.com/2024/06/25/20-years-later-family-still-seeking-answers-phenix-city-cold-case/

3. https://governor.alabama.gov/assets/2023/12/2023-12-15-Eric-Nelams-Reward-Proclamation.pdf

4. https://www.wsfa.com/2023/12/21/phenix-city-police-search-answers-20-year-cold-case-cash-reward-offered/

5. https://www.yahoo.com/news/20-years-later-alabama-army-213156644.html

6. https://phenixcityal.gov/police-department/programs/crime-stoppers/

7. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/ERICBERNARDNELAMS/DE2EF94

8. https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/files/200710383.pdf

9. https://www.newspapers.com/image/861225502/?focus=0.044200268%2C0.4413195%2C0.21312955%2C0.9866894&xid=3355&_gl=1%2a1u5mqfr%2a_gcl_au%2aMTUyMjUwNDMxMi4xNzM3ODMyMjky%2a_ga%2aMjEwODE1NjExMC4xNzM3ODMyMjk0%2a_ga_4QT8FMEX30%2aNDIzNTljMGItZGVlYi00NDcxLWJiMzItNzAyZDNjZDAwMmIzLjEuMS4xNzM3ODMyOTc0LjMwLjAuMA..%2a_ga_LMK6K2LSJH%2aNDIzNTljMGItZGVlYi00NDcxLWJiMzItNzAyZDNjZDAwMmIzLjEuMS4xNzM3ODMyOTc1LjAuMC4w

10. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61049/records/12821073?tid=&pid=&queryId=96f4d2f3-9887-4af1-b8c9-d122fda8b6a8&usePUBJs=true

11. https://seasonofjustice.org/featured/eric-nelams/

https://phenixcityal.gov/police-department/programs/crime-stoppers/

1. https://www.newspapers.com/image/676701735/?match=1&terms=%22eric%20nelams%22

2. Gray, Haley; Interview with family

3. https://irisinvestigativestrategies.com/

4. https://projectcoldcase.org/2025/02/10/eric-nelams/ 

5. https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/