A mother is found stabbed to death in her home
Junel Wingo Trotman was a beloved older sister, a devoted mother of three, and a familiar, friendly voice to many through her job as a telephone operator for BellSouth. Born on June 10, 1956, in Miami, Florida, Junel, a 31-year-old African-American woman, was the oldest of six siblings and naturally fell into the role of a nurturer and mentor. Her younger brother, Taqua Taylor, remembered how she would pack all the kids into her car for adventures, taking them to Miami's Crandon Park or Virginia Key Beach. On other days, she would treat them to movies at the Cutler Ridge Theater, always making sure they had money for tickets. She was the fun, dependable sister, the one who looked out for everyone.
The happy memories of those summer afternoons came to a devastating end on Wednesday, July 22, 1987. On that morning, Junel’s husband, Gregory Trotman, was supposed to drive her to her family’s house. But Junel never arrived. Later that day, she was found dead inside her own home in the South Miami Heights neighborhood of southern Miami-Dade County. She was discovered in the foyer, having been brutally stabbed to death. There were no signs of a forced entry into the residence.
In the months before her murder, Junel had been suffering from a series of unexplained health problems. Her family grew concerned that she was being slowly poisoned by someone close to her, a fear that added a layer of horror to the violence that ultimately took her life. The Miami-Dade Police Department launched a homicide investigation, but the case quickly grew cold. Investigators interviewed those who knew her, including her husband, who told police that Junel was alive when he left the house that morning. With no witnesses to the crime itself and a lack of sufficient evidence, no arrests were ever made, and no charges were ever filed.
For more than three decades, Junel’s murder has remained unsolved, leaving her family with a profound sense of loss and an endless search for answers. The tragedy shattered the family. After their mother's death, Junel's three young children were separated, adding to the immense pain. Her daughters were sent to live in Connecticut, while her son remained in Miami. The siblings who had once piled into her car for joyful outings were left with only memories and the heavy burden of an unresolved crime.
Her family has never given up hope for justice. They have worked to keep her memory alive and continue to push for a resolution in her case. In their effort to find answers, they partnered with Project: Cold Case, an organization that supports families of unsolved homicide victims. This collaboration helped ensure Junel’s story would not be forgotten and brought renewed attention to her case, listing her name among the countless victims still awaiting justice.
The investigation into the murder of Junel Wingo Trotman is still open. Her family believes that someone, somewhere, holds the key to understanding what happened on that terrible day in 1987. Decades have passed, but the hope for a breakthrough remains. As of April 2022, the case is still active, waiting for the one piece of information that could finally lead to an arrest.
The Miami-Dade Police Department urges anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. A reward of up to $3,000 is available for tips that lead to an arrest. Individuals can contact the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homicide Unit directly at 305-603-6350. To remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).
