Family seeks answers in hit and run death

BEAUMONT- by Haley BullA Beaumont family is seeking answers in the death of their son and brother.Police found the body of Devin Julien on the Eastex Freeway service road near Lucas on Dec. 27. Investigators said Julien was walking when a driver struck him and kept going. His body landed on the grass near a utility pole.Police don't have enough evidence to link anyone to the collision and no one has come forward to admit driving into Julien. His mother and sister vowed to find the person responsible Thursday.Devin was a very fun-loving person. Everybody loved him from a child, Karen Crawford Mallett, Julien's mother, said.His pictures fill her living room table and his sister's cell phone.He would just walk all the time trying to keep himself together, Mallett said.His family said it was a way to cope with the schizophrenia that began changing his life in his early twenties.That's the reason why he walked. When he walked most of the time, he helped other people, his sister, Takesha Jeanmard-Julien, said.He lived with his mother but some people thought he was homeless.People saw him asking for food but not knowing the whole story. He asked for food to keep other people from begging for food, Julien's sister said. What he would do is take the food if he saw anybody else homeless or hungry, he'd give it to them.The last time Julien's mother saw him was before bedtime Dec. 26, the day after Christmas.Can I eat something? I said sure, Mallett said. Julien made gumbo and two sandwiches. That was the last time I saw my baby.The next day, Dec. 27, police found Julien's body on the Eastex Freeway service road. Investigators said a driver struck him and drove away.How can you hit an individual and leave him for dead, and not, I assume, show no emotions about it. But I, as a mother, I will have that in my heart for the rest of my life. My missing piece of the puzzle will be missing, my child, Mallett said.Police found a headlight and turn light near the scene of the collision. They said it came from a GMC Sierra pick up or Yukon. If you have information about the fatal hit and run collision call Crimestoppers at 833-tips. You could earn an up to $1,000 reward and operators won't ask for your name.