Edward Powers

Edward Michael Powers, known to his loved ones as Eddie, was a 28-year-old Dayton, Ohio, native with a talent for fixing cars and a deep love for the game of basketball. Born on November 17, 1984, Eddie was a skilled mechanic by trade, a man who enjoyed both playing and watching sports. But above all else, he was a devoted and adoring father to his young daughter, Lilianna. His life was characterized by his close-knit family bonds and the joy he found in fatherhood. He was a cherished son, brother, and grandson, leaving behind a large family who felt his loss profoundly.

The life of this young father was tragically cut short on Monday, May 6, 2013. On that day, in an act of violence that has yet to be explained, Edward Powers was murdered in his hometown of Dayton. The specific details of what happened on that spring day—the exact location, the circumstances, and the motive behind his killing—have remained shrouded in mystery, leaving his family with unanswered questions and a community with an unsolved crime. His death was a sudden and brutal event that left a void in the lives of all who knew him.

The Dayton Police Department responded to the incident and launched a homicide investigation. Detectives began the difficult work of piecing together the events that led to Eddie’s death, but the case proved challenging from the start. As time passed with no arrests made, the investigation eventually went cold, meaning all viable leads had been exhausted. The case of Edward Powers became one of the many unsolved homicides that haunt families and law enforcement agencies across the country.

In an effort to generate new leads, his case has been publicly listed by the Ohio Attorney General's Office as an unsolved homicide. This inclusion in a statewide database aims to bring fresh attention to cases like Eddie's, with the hope that someone, somewhere, holds the key piece of information that could break the case open. The listing serves as a public appeal, a reminder that even a seemingly small or insignificant detail could be the catalyst that leads investigators to the truth and provides a measure of justice for Eddie and his grieving family. The Dayton Police Department continues to be the primary law enforcement agency on the case.

Eddie’s family mourned their profound loss with a celebration of his life held on Saturday, May 11, 2013, at Summit Christian Church in Trotwood. The service was a testament to the many lives he had touched in his 28 years. He is remembered by his mother and step-father, Crystal and Shelby Walker; his step-mother, Sandi Powers; his beloved daughter, Lilianna; his sisters, Tamica Mathews, Francis Powers, and Jamie Walker; his brothers, Frank Powers and Jonathan Walker; and his grandparents, Eddie and Susan Phelps. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Powers, and his grandmother, Marva Phelps.

More than a decade has passed since Edward Powers was killed, and his case remains unsolved. His name is included in the Montgomery County Homicide Victims Memorial, a somber roll call of lives taken by violence in the community. For his family, the passage of time has not diminished the pain of their loss or their desire for answers. The investigation into his murder is ongoing, and authorities continue to ask for the public's help. Anyone with information regarding the murder of Edward Powers is urged to come forward. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation can be contacted at 855-224-6446. Every tip, no matter how minor it may seem, is a potential step toward closing this painful chapter for a family that has waited too long for justice.