More than thirty one years after he went missing, family members of Jeffrey Klee know that he was killed. They also believe David Cusanelli, his best friend, was responsible for his death. Investigators even have Cusanelli admitting that he may have put Jeff's body in his car, with the help of his brother Carl, and pushed it into a canal.

However, David remains free, as does Carl, thanks to the statutory limitations in affect at the time of Klee's death. Prior to Oct. 1, 1996, prosecutions for manslaughter in Florida had to be initiated within three years of the offence. Klee’s family members cannot seek justice in a court of law, a fact they are yet to come to terms with.

“Today is a sad day for our family,” said Laurel Steele, Klee’s sister, as she read a prepared statement at a press conference held Thursday afternoon at the Coral Springs police department headquarters. Standing beside her were Florence Klee, Jeffrey’s mother, and Cynthia Klee, his other sister.

“Instead of experiencing complete closure surrounding the disappearance and death of our brother Jeff 31 years ago, we are burdened by knowing that someone who we believe put our brother in his van and pushed him into a canal to be left for dead will not be legally accountable for the crime they committed,” Steele said. “It tests my family’s faith to its very core.”

Coral Springs police department detectives, who investigated the case and even obtained a statement from David and Carl, are equally frustrated. “It is unfortunate and highly frustrating,” police chief Duncan Foster said. “We have identified the suspects but we know they will never see the insides of a courtroom. Klee’s family members will not get the closure necessary in this case.”

The case, which was opened several times over the years, came to life after Jeffrey’s van, containing his remains, was located March 26 this year during a routine police search for stolen cars. Detectives were then able to obtain a statement from David, the suspect in the case, and Carl, who admitted to helping his brother push the van into the canal.