Wife has hope killer will be found

Nevada Appeal News Service

When her husband was killed by a motorist on Mount Rose Highway last year, Barbara Borgerding received 650 cards from concerned community members.

A year later, she said the community supports her so much she decided to stay in Incline Village, even though she thought about moving to Reno.

"Still, people are responding and doing what they can, which is really very sweet," Borgerding said. "A day doesn't go by where I don't get a call from someone checking in with me."

Though investigation officials have no new clues in Joe Borgerding's death, the Nevada Highway Patrol and Washoe County Sheriff's Office is hoping the person responsible will come forward.

On the morning of Feb. 10, 2004, Borgerding, 62, was jogging along the highway when he was struck by what officials described as a 1994-to-1998, full-size Chevrolet or GMC pickup or SUV. Officials estimate the accident occurred between 6:20 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. before Borgerding was found by a Nevada Department of Transportation crew member.

Barbara Borgerding said she was contacted by the person whom she believes killed her husband, but said authorities were unable to track down the suspect. Borgerding said she believes the person responsible must feel a tremendous amount of guilt.

"I would like him to come forward," she said. "I think he's carrying a big burden."

On the anniversary of her husband's death, Borgerding went to Seattle to be with her son and daughter. She said her family is doing as well as it can, but the anniversary has been difficult.

Borgerding said her husband, whose mother is still alive and whose aunt is age 106, probably would have taken after his family and lived a long life.

"He would have lived to 106," she said. "Longevity was there."

As authorities hope press coverage of the event one year later will help new clues surface, Borgerding said she hopes her husband's killer comes forward.

"We make all kinds of excuses for him, but there's no excuse for not coming forward," she said.