DETROIT (WWJ) – The family of Rose Marie Woolwine say they will finally see justice served today as the man convicted of Woolwine’s killing is sentenced.

And it all happened because the victim’s daughter refused to let her death remain a cold case following her murder more than 20 years ago.

Woolwine, who was 26 years old at the time, was shot to death in southwest Detroit by her boyfriend, Juan Cruz, in 1989. Cruz was never charged with the crime, he just disappeared after she was dead.

Woolwine’s daughter, Theresa Ramirez, was only 7 years old at the time, but as a teenager, she began to ask questions. She continued to pursue leads and tirelessly pushed investigators to move forward on the case.

In 2011, Cruz was located in Mexico, extradited to the U.S. last year, and brought to justice 23 years after Woolwine’s death. Today, Cruz, now 56, will be sentenced for second degree murder in Wayne County.