For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 17, 2003

Johnson City, Tenn.-Believing that foul play may have been involved in the March 21st death of James Robert "Robbie" Nottingham on the campus of East Tennessee State University his family is offering a reward of $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for his possible murder.

Nottingham, 22, was found dead in a puddle of blood on the sidewalk outside Building H of ETSU's Buccaneer Ridge Apartments where he lived. Authorities believe that he died as the result of a fall from an overhang on the front of the building, but the death certificate says that the actual manner of death could not be determined conclusively.

ETSU's Department of Public Safety, the sole agency investigating the death, closed their investigation April 24th. They found no evidence of suicide, and a toxicology test found no alcohol or drugs in Nottingham's system that might have caused him to fall accidentally leading his family to suspect that he may have been murdered.

"The Nottinghams understandably want answers, answers that ETSU has been unable to provide," said S. Daniel Carter, a spokesperson for the family and victim advocate with the non-profit Security On Campus organization. "Had the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation been allowed to assist with additional experience and resources these answers might have been more forthcoming, but since they weren't the Nottinghams are having to take matters into their own hands. Hopefully the reward will motivate someone who knows something to come forward."

The family has established a web site http://www.robbienottingham.com/ and phone number (423) 288-6502 to accept tips. Ads will also be running this week in the Johnson City Press, and the Kingsport Times-News.

A high-resolution color photograph of Robbie Nottingham suitable for publication is available on the web site for download at http://www.robbienottingham.com/rnottingham_highres.jpg