Family won't give up on unsolved murder of Matt Novak Jr.

It has been six years since Matt Novak Sr. lost his son and he refuses to let the case go cold.

"It's my duty as a father," Novak said of his drive to find Matt Novak Jr.'s killer, despite no new leads from police.

"I'm never going to let go."

In an attempt to bring some attention to the case, Novak Sr. and Chuck Dougherty, a Gloucester Township police detective who is Novak Jr.'s cousin, have produced a short video on the case.

The video and other pictures have been posted on a Facebook page and YouTube channel dedicated to Novak Jr. WhokilledMattNovak.com is also splashed with bold headlines reminding the public there is a $42,000 reward in the case.

"We hope the video will bring some more awareness to the public," said the senior Novak.

"To tell you the truth, it's getting tougher and tougher to get the word out there."

His 24-year-old son was murdered Sept. 28, 2008. Matt Novak Jr. and some friends were stranded on Green Street, north of Spring Garden, when Novak Jr. flagged down a passing car for help.

After speaking with the men inside the dark blue Chevy Impala, the younger Novak left his two friends with their disabled vehicle and entered the back seat of the idling car to go get some jumper cables.

What happened next is as much a mystery today as it was that September night. The Mullica Hill resident was shot in the hip as he stumbled out of the Impala in the area of 13th and Fairmount streets.

"We don't know exactly what happened," Dougherty said. "But unfortunately (the bullet) hit a major artery."

Matt Novak Jr. died at an area hospital hours later.

The Novak family has relived that memory multiple times and attempts to find leads have been unsuccessful. It's now become even more of a nightmare for the victim's father.

"Half of me is always looking to the past," said the senior Novak.

"I mean, I love my family. I have a wife and a stepdaughter with grandkids, but I can never look forward 100 percent."

Novak Jr. had recently graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia and was working at the family's metal fabricating business when he was killed. His dream was to become a professional chef.

"He was an unbelievable cook," recalled his father. "The kid could light it up in the kitchen."

Father and son would often cook Sunday dinners together. Their favorite meal was saltimbocca.

"I was gaining weight left and right," Novak said with a laugh.

Though breaks in the case have been limited, the dark blue Impala was captured on a surveillance camera as it pulled up to Novak and his stranded friends, Chris Alarcon and Ernesto Oquendo. But authorities have only been able to decipher a few characters on the New Jersey tags.

"Even though we have a couple characters, it's still a needle in a haystack," Dougherty noted.

One theory is the Impala could have been at a nearby body shop, due to a spot of primer on a back fender. Novak and Dougherty believe someone at a shop could have taken the car for a joyride.

"This may be why we haven't gotten any tips, because the owners of the car don't even know their vehicle was involved in a homicide," Dougherty theorized.

Philadelphia Police spokesman Christine O'Brien said Monday the murder of Matt Novak Jr. is still an "open and active investigation" but there is no new information.

While frustrated, Novak is grateful for the efforts of Philadelphia police, especially homicide Det. Brian Peters.

Novak also credited Dougherty as being the family's guiding hand throughout the investigation.

"It could very easily be in a cold file somewhere, so even though it's at the bottom of a pile, I'm still grateful it's on his desk," he added.

The two men believe someday the family will have closure.

"That word closure, I hate hearing it sometimes, but there is some truth to it," said Novak Sr.

"I just ask if anyone has information, you have to stand up and do the right thing."

Reach Phil Dunn at (856) 486-2456 or pdunn@courierpostonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @philmdunn.