WINDSOR, Ontario – The Robinson family had no idea a camping trip would be the last vacation they would spend all together.
On Feb. 27, 2003 the family made a horrific discovery at Dee Dee Robinson's Windsor home.
"I was at my friend's house. My son called me up. 'Mom, something is going on at Dee Dee's house," said Deberah Robinson, Dee Dee's mother. " ... 'I hear there is blood everywhere.'"
Deberah's oldest daughter Jennifer walked into Dee Dee's house that night. There was no sign of Dee Dee or her son Xavier.
Then, Jennifer stepped into the basement where she found her sister on the ground, beaten to death.
"It just seemed like our world just crashed there," Deberah said. "Unbelievable. This can't be happening."
One question haunted the family: Where was Xavier? Did someone kidnap the 4-year-old boy?
Hours went by before police gave Deberah the answer she feared.
"Once they got the whole family together they told us he expired," the grandmother said.
The boy was found dead in the bathroom. Police have never released the 4-year-old's cause of death.
"In one night they were gone. They were stolen from me. And I know they will never come back," Deberah said.
Dee Dee and her son Xavier were found murdered across the river in their Windsor home nearly a decade ago.
"We're gonna solve this one," said Windsor Police Det. Frank Providenti.
That may sound arrogant, but Providenti's confidence is supported by numbers. Since the Windsor police started a major crimes unit every recent homicide has been solved. Now, the unit is focusing on cold cases.
"This stuff doesn't go away," the detective said. "We never close cases."
Just weeks ago, the major crimes unit solved a 12-year-old case and now all of their attention is on bringing justice to Dee Dee and Xavier.
"Killing a 29-year-old woman is bad enough, but a 4-year-old child ... he didn't do anybody any harm," said Providenti.
Windsor police said the people who hold the key to solving the murders are now living in Metro Detroit.
"The person that killed Dee Dee and Xavier has spoken to someone about this," said Providenti. "And they need to come to us and help us."
James Thomas was dating Dee Dee at the time of her death. Thomas lives in Metro Detroit. He was cooperative with police nine years ago but they want to talk to him again.
-- James Thomas
"There's a few questions I'd like to clear up regarding his whereabouts during that time," said Providenti.
Thomas is not alone. Police said there are other Metro Detroiters who are people of interest in the murders. Detectives want to speak with them. They want to confirm the last time Dee Dee was seen alive.
"And I know, I know someone has information on this," Providenti said.
They also want to speak with other Metro Detroit men because of what they found in Dee Dee's own handwriting.
"Dee Dee had a journal, and she kept a lot of information in her journal," Providenti said. "And we're getting a lot of information to go on from her journal."
For the Robinson family, an arrest would bring closure. However, they know it will never bring back Dee Dee and Xavier.
"That child will never see a school again. Never see a play yard. Never see his favorite toy," said Deberah said.
Family and police believe this was not a random attack. They feel Dee Dee knew her killer and they also believe Xavier was killed because he could identify the killer.