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Father continues to seek answers to teen daughter's murder in Tonopah

Posted at 3:10 PM, Aug 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-29 10:22:58-04
A Valley father is pleading for answers and justice one year after a gruesome discovery on a desolate highway.
 
Two teens were found shot and killed back on August 18, 2015 in Tonopah. 
 
The girl's father is speaking out, telling ABC 15 what he needs to move on in his life without his little girl. 
 
"It's so tough to go through," James Gibbs said. 
 
His daughter was 17-year-old Sophia Gibbs. Without her, Gibbs said he has "no life." 
 
She was a star on the softball diamond. But, without her on the field, her father is struggling to have a new focus.
 
"My whole world was wrapped around, you know, having the van, the easy-out, the cooler... everything," Gibbs explained. "Now, we have nothing."
 
Gibbs described how his daughter hung out with the wrong people. He also said she struggled with a drug problem.
 
Now, he's blaming himself for what happened. 
 
"I just don't know where I went wrong as a parent," Gibbs said. "How did I not see this coming?"
 
Now, the stress of searching for answers is taking a toll on his marriage of 25 years.
 
"I feel like this is going to split us up," Gibbs said, as tears streamed down his cheeks. "We are so mad at each other—for whatever reason."
 
Their daughter was found laying in the road near Salome Highway and 411th Avenue. Her boyfriend, 18-year-old Jesse Romero, was lying only feet away from her slumped over a fence.
 
Any leads were lost along the desolate highway the couple was found on.
 
"It would help me. It would help me so bad to be able to put this behind me because nobody...nobody will talk to me," Gibbs said, choking on the words. "I get nothing from nobody."
 
Silent Witness is hoping anyone with information will come forward and call 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or click here. There is up to a $1,000 reward for tips. 
 
As always, you can remain anonymous.