Family searches for answers 10 years after Houston woman is killed

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - "I've never had closure. It's been ten years and I still don't have closure," Monica Punch said.

Her daughter Fransica "Frances" Smith was just 28-years-old when she was fatally shot outside of an apartment in southwest Houston. It happened on September 19, 2007, just over 10 years ago. It's a day her mother says she will never forget.

"I received a phone call that my daughter was at the Harris County Coroner's Office," Punch said.

One of her sisters got to visit with her the day before the incident.

"I was able to see her, speak to her. We had an awesome time. She came to my job and sat down and ate. It was cool. Didn't seem like she knew anything was going to happen to her, and then, you know, the next day to receive a phone call was heartbreaking because if you knew me, you knew my sister," Titiana Punch said.

On Saturday, her family and friends met to honor what would have been her 38th birthday. Now, instead, they all put on her favorite color and release balloons -- an annual tradition to keep Frances' memory alive. 

"Everyday it gets harder and harder. I don't think nobody understands. You will never understand till you lose somebody that close to you", says her sister Carla Brown.

With no leads, the family says they have leaned on their faith over the years, hoping someone that knows something will come forward.

"She was my guardian angel and I know now she's looking down on us", says Titiana Punch.

The family asks anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.