MADISON, Wis. -- The grandmother of a 31-year-old slaying victim has issued an impassioned plea to the public for help catching the killer.

Madison police said that Joel Marino was stabbed by an intruder in his home on Jan. 28. He was found dying in a nearby alley a short time later.

Marino's family has been critical of the Madison police's handling of the case. His parents met privately with Police Chief Noble Wray on Tuesday to discuss their concerns.

The department on Wednesday released a moving tribute to Marino written by his grandmother, Betty Parman.

Parman describes her grandson as a beautiful young man who loved music and helped patients with heart problems in his job with a medical device company.

She said the public must not let him "die in vain."

"The killer of Joel Marino should know about the life he stole from so many people," Parman wrote. "(Joel's) family loved him deeply and has been devastated by this murder and will never recover from this senseless act of evil."

The Madison Police Department is also reminding citizens of a $45,000 reward being offered for any information leading to an arrest in the Marino investigation.

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Madison Police News Release: Joel Marino's Grandmother Pens Tribute