Three years and six months ago, 17-year-old Samayah Barker-Lee was killed in a hit-and-run crash while returning home from a birthday party in Indiana on Easter Sunday.
Her heartbroken family is still seeking answers in their search for the driver who killed the teenager.
She was heading home from a friend’s party with her boyfriend, Benjamin Jimenez, her cousin, Adashia Smith, and her friend, Camden Painter, when a car ran a red light and crashed into their vehicle. Barker-Lee died from the injuries she sustained in the crash.
The driver of the vehicle responsible for the deadly crash fled after the crash, abandoning the car. The collision occurred at the intersection of McKinney Avenue and Lafayette Street in Fort Wayne in the early hours of April 4, 2021.
Anyone with information concerning Barker Lee’s unsolved homicide are asked to call Fort Wayne Police Department at (260)427-1222. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, call Fort Wayne Crime Stoppers at (260)436-786
‘Something just felt different’
On the night of April 3, Rheanna Lee dropped her daughter off at a friend’s birthday party, she told the PolicePodTalk Podcast. Familiar with the area and the parents, she felt confident it was a safe environment. Yet, she admitted something about the “night felt different.”
“It didn’t feel bad, like something bad was going to happen,” Lee said. “It just felt like I needed more time with her.”
Lee said her daughter texted her after midnight to say the group was on their way home. However, she was uncertain about the route they would take, as she didn’t know who would be dropped off first.
Not long after, Lee heard a knock on her door. An officer stood there, informing her that her daughter had been in a car accident. The officer provided few details about the incident, leaving Lee feeling skeptical.
Uncertain of what to believe, she attempted to reach the other passengers, but they were all “knocked out,” with Jimenez remaining in a coma for a month.
She only found clarity after contacting the coroner’s office with the officer.
“We had no idea what condition her body was in, I was never offered to see her to make sure it was her,” Lee said.
Lee said her daughter was identified by her ID, and the first time she was allowed to see her was at the funeral home, where she had to rush to organize a memorial service.
Lee wants people to remember not only her daughter but also the other three passengers affected by the tragedy, noting everyone is still struggling.
“They were at the highlight of their lives,” Lee said. “They were impacted greatly. They’re socially different now, emotionally different now. I feel like they’re forever traumatized.”
‘Someone out there that saw something’
Now in 2024, she is still seeking answers about that early morning when a small black sedan crashed into the pickup truck carrying the four teenagers.
“I believe there is a good possibility these people were harmed [too], it was a tiny car that smashed into a giant truck,” Lee said. “The airbags had to have deployed. I feel like there’s someone out there that saw something or heard something or knows something that they don’t realize that’s what it connects back to.”
Lee also said she hears little from the detectives and the Fort Wayne Police Department.
“If contacted at all, I’m told to continue being patient or that we have no new information because this is an active investigation,” Lee said. “If we find out anything, we will let you know.”
She said they have been saying that for the last three years.
Newsweek reached out to the Fort Wayne police department, however, they have not yet responded.
What is Project: Cold Case?
Although the case remains unsolved, several organizations, including Project: Cold Case, have been actively supporting the investigation.
Newsweek spoke to Ryan Backman, founder of Project: Cold Case, who has a personal connection to the cause — his father was murdered in 2009, and the case remains unsolved to this day.
Project: Cold Case is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about unsolved homicides. It provides support to families of victims by spotlighting cold cases, offering a platform for them to share their loved ones’ stories, and working to keep the victims’ memories alive.
Backman told Newsweek their initial awareness efforts focus on Facebook, Instagram, and their website, where they share narratives and contact details for tips. This information remains on the website and can be shared through social media. They also host two monthly support meetings—one in person for local families and one virtual for a wider audience.
“We’re strictly focused on advocacy and awareness, and we work with the family,” Backman said. “Even when we’re partnered with law enforcement, we’re not investigating. That said, I’m extremely proud that 71 cases featured on our website have resulted in some kind of arrest or resolution.”
Backman said many families, including Barker-Lee’s, often face frustration and a lack of information from investigators. However, it doesn’t mean the investigation isn’t ongoing.
“There’s a frustration with law enforcement, and that’s not uncommon. Almost every family we work with tells us their biggest complaint is a lack of communication. Many don’t know what evidence exists in the case, which is understandable when a case is still fresh. Law enforcement often has to keep details close to the vest to prevent leaks.”
However, he acknowledges when a case is several years old, law enforcement should prioritize meeting with the families, as they may provide valuable assistance in the investigation.
“I think it’s important for law enforcement to sit down with families and explain exactly what they have and what they’re waiting for. Are they waiting for advancements in technology? Are they waiting for someone to come forward? What exactly do they need? We are the family, and we want to help.”
The qualifications for receiving advocacy assistance from Project: Cold Case are based on three criteria.
“It has to be a year since the incident,” Backman said. “It has to be a family member, because we’re providing advocacy and it has to be ruled a homicide, because we’re not investigators.”
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