BUTLER TWP — Someone who remembers a friend or family member coming home late at night with damage to their car. A comment made long ago that never sat right with someone who heard it. The troubled or strange demeanor of an acquaintance that they would not explain.

Small details like these could be the information that cracks an 18-year-old cold case surrounding the deaths of Shawn Baur and Scott Fosnaught, both 15, who were found injured and unresponsive July 17, 2002, on Cashdollar Road in Forward Township.

Scott was pronounced dead at the scene in the wee hours of that morning, while Shawn survived for a short time before succumbing to head injuries at a Pittsburgh hospital, never having regained consciousness.

On Friday, the 18th anniversary of the event, a demonstration was held at the state police's Butler Barracks to raise awareness that the case has never been solved.

We Can Bring You Hope, a nationwide organization of volunteers based in Middlesex Township that helps families with missing persons, human trafficking and domestic violence cases, collaborated with Ailvie Rausch, Scott Fosnaught's mother, to organize the demonstration.

In addition to encouraging people to come forward with tips on the case, Rausch, now of Moon Township, Allegheny County, wants her son's case reopened and all those interviewed in the initial investigation re-interviewed.

“I think they missed the person who did this,” she said.

Rausch also wants state police to invite the FBI to participate in the case, which she was told is the only way the bureau would get involved.

She also advocates for each county in Pennsylvania to have their own state police cold-case squad, so a single trooper is not handling multiple cold cases.

“Cold cases don't get the attention they deserve,” Rausch said.

Signs at the demonstration also listed the names of other Butler County cases that have gone cold, such as Cherrie Mahan of Winfield Township, Bob Gaurrich of Evans City and Michele Reidenbach of Zelienople.

Cherrie, 8, disappeared after getting off the school bus in 1985 at her home in Winfield Township.

Gaurrich, 45, was gunned down in 2013 at his truck repair business outside of Evans City, and Reidenbach, 16, disappeared in 1981 after buying cold medicine from a Zelienople pharmacy.

In the nearly two decades since she received the news of the death of her son and his best friend, Rausch has had the boys on her mind 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“I wake up thinking about it ... when I can sleep,” Rausch said while wiping away yet another tear. “It eats away at you physically and mentally.”

Loretta Buck of Blairsville, Westmoreland County, drove an hour and a half to attend the demonstration.

Buck's children were friends with both Shawn and Scott when she and her family lived in Evans City. Her family had spent the day riding Jet Skis with Shawn just one week before the boys were found dead.

“It's ridiculous that it's been 18 years and there are no answers and someone is walking free,” Buck said through tears. “I'm angry. I want justice for these boys.”

She said she admires Rausch for fighting to maintain public awareness of the case, despite her own crippling grief as a mother.

“Ailvie is their voice now,” Buck said. “(Scott and Shawn) aren't here to tell us what happened. I love her for doing this.”

Buck is also frustrated that no leads have appeared in the case, and angry that someone knows how the boys' lives ended.

“How do you lay your head down on your pillow at night knowing what you did to these boys?” Buck hypothetically asked the person responsible as her voice cracked with sobs.

Rausch said one piece of evidence could potentially put an end to the need for vigils and demonstrations for the boys.

“We can stop all of this,” she said as she gestured toward the homemade signs at the demonstration. “Once (the case) is solved, this will end and we can grieve our children.”

State police could not be reached Friday for comment on the case.

Michelle Heilman-Bender of We Can Bring You Hope said anonymous tips on the deaths of Shawn Baur and Scott Fosnaught can be phoned in or texted to 724-466-4673.

An anonymous tip portal also is available at wecanbringyouhope.org.

Those with information also have the option to call the state police at 724-284-8100.

There is a $27,000 reward for anyone whose information leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the death of the teens.

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