MADISON, Wis. -- The stepmother of a man found stabbed and unresponsive outside his home last month on Madison's south side said she will never give up looking for her son's killer.

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"The days have been tough," Debbie Marino told WISC-TV. "But we'll stick with this no matter what to find out who was responsible for Joel's murder."

Joel Marino, 31, was found unresponsive in an alley just off the 700 block of South Park Street, near West Shore Drive, on Jan. 28. Authorities said Marino died from stab wounds and that they are treating his death as a homicide. Police said the stabbing might have occurred inside Marino's home and that it might have been random.

Debbie Marino had known her stepson Joel Marino for a little more than half his life. She came into his life when he was 14. She said she never imagined, however, that she would bury him 17 years later.

"As his parents, no matter how much you want to protect your children, no matter what age they are, you always want to protect them from anything ever happening to them that would be harmful or bad," Debbie Marino said. "And we couldn't stop this from happening."

Joel Marino was a well-known figure in the community who neighbors said stood up for his neighborhood. Friends said he was always trying to do his part to make the world a better place.

His stepmother said he cared for everyone around him, and that last thing he would want is for his neighbors to feel threatened or frightened after an incident like this.

"Joel was a good neighbor and called his neighbors regularly to check on them," Debbie Marino said. "A lot of people in Joel's neighborhood are frightened. We need to find out who did this -- I don't want them to be afraid."

Debbie Marino said she hopes her interview with WISC-TV, as well as an upcoming candlelight vigil, will keep Joel's slaying in people's minds so that someone who might have information about the crime will come forward.

"I pray to God that we'll know who did this," Debbie Marino said.

Since Joel Marino's death, volunteers have helped pass out fliers and raise money for a reward fund. That fund now stands at $40,000. Debbie Marino said she just doesn't want people to forget what happened to her son and she hopes his killer is brought to justice.

"I don't want this person to be unaccountable for. He murdered my son. He walked into his house and murdered him," Debbie Marino said.

Authorities are asking anyone with information on the case to call Madison-Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.

Detectives said there is no new information in the case that they can release. They said they have received hundreds of calls and tips but that nothing has led to any breaks in the case.

Friends and family said they once again plan to be out in Joel Marino's neighborhood, as early as this weekend, to pass out fliers. They said they want to keep a presence there and don't want people to lose sight of this crime. They're also planning a candlelight vigil in the days ahead in Joel Marino's honor.