TUSCUMBIA — The Tuscumbia Police Department has petitioned the governor's office for a reward in the death of Elbert Farley "Possum" Davis Jr.

"We talked with the district attorney's office and we felt a reward would further assist us with the investigation," Tuscumbia Police Chief Tony Logan said. "We have been in discussion with Gov. Robert Bentley's office and we hope to hear something about the status of the request soon."

Davis, 88, was killed during a home invasion at his residence on High Street. A friend found his body on Aug. 28 at the bottom of the basement stairs. He was flown to Huntsville Hospital where he died the next day.

Agents with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation are helping Tuscumbia with the investigation. Other local agencies have offered help and have supplied information.

"(The reward) is another opportunity to attract attention to the case and hopefully bring some new information forward," Logan said.

Tuscumbia police detective Sgt. Stuart Setliff said the department still continues to receive information and follow up on every lead.

"Every day we are working on this case," Setliff said. "We believe there is someone out there that knows something that can help lead us to finding out who is responsible.

"That's why getting a reward could be very helpful to the case."

Investigators believe Davis confronted the intruder in the basement. Logan said a tool was used to break into the back of the house. He said Davis could have died during a struggle.

Davis' wallet was stolen along with some medication, police said.

Logan said Davis sometimes carried cash in his pockets and there wasn't any found.

"We are not giving up on this; we're still working it as actively as ever," Logan said. "We have gotten a lot of information, but we are confident that there is a person or persons out there that can help us solve this case if they just came forward.

"We're still waiting on information from state forensics, but we would love to have someone who was an eyewitness or have reliable information on who was involved to step forward."

He said anyone with any information should call Tuscumbia police at 256-383-3121 or Shoals Area Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.