18th Annual Jenny Lin Vigil Tonight at Castro Valley Library

By Bay City News

The family of a slain Castro Valley teenager is remembering their daughter 18 years after her death with .

Jenny Lin, 14, was murdered at home on May 27, 1994. No murder suspects have been charged with her killing nearly 18 years later, according to Jenny's father, John Lin.

Every year since Jenny's death the family has held a service to honor the teenager who was a musician and dedicated student.

This year's ceremony will be held at the at 2600 Norbridge Ave. at 6:30 p.m. followed by a candlelight walk around the block led by Lin and his wife.

Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern is expected to speak at the ceremony. Lin said the sheriff is expected to reiterate his commitment to solving the case.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony and walk, according to the Lin family.

Lin said "we are not tired of doing this" after so many years and hopes the ceremony will "keep the case out there so people know the case is not solved. We're not getting the justice for Jenny after all these years. We can't find closure."

Lin said in 2007 the Alameda County Sheriff's Office had a potential suspect but did not have enough evidence to charge him with the crime.

The year after Jenny was killed the family created the Jenny Lin Foundation when "people wanted to cling to something more positive," Lin said.

The foundation stresses the importance of child safety and promotes education and safe behavior. Through the foundation, the Lin family offers a six-week music camp for young students to learn an instrument in a safe environment.

Lin said last year 300 students participated at the program held at Canyon Middle School in Castro Valley — and hundreds more attended the end of program concert.

The foundation and especially the camp help the family honor Jenny's memory. The 14-year-old was an avid musician, according to her father, learning piano when she was 4 years old and then teaching herself viola in the fifth grade.

In middle school Jenny was asked to join a high school chamber orchestra, which was something Jenny enjoyed, according to her father.

"She picked up viola because she wanted to be with a group," he said. "She wanted to make friends, be with people."

Just days before her murder, Jenny won an award for her viola skills, Lin said.

Anyone with information to help solve the crime is asked to call the Alameda County Sheriff's Office annonymous tip line at (510) 667-7721 or (855) 4-JENNY-LIN. A $100,000 reward continues to be offered for information leading to the conviction of the murderer.