Champaign County authorities are offering a $5,000 award for help solving a homicide in which a veteran and former Boy Scout leader was beaten in his home and died a short time later.

Louis E. Taylor, 87, was found Oct. 24, 2011, badly beaten in his home on Dorothy Moore Drive. His 2006 Jeep Liberty was found the same day in the parking lot of a Long John Silver's restaurant, in the 2200 block of South Limestone Street in Springfield.

July 7 would have been Taylor's birthday, according to information from Urbana police. Authorities are taking the anniversary as an opportunity to find Taylor's killer, police Chief Matt Lingrell said Friday.

"We are hoping that the time that has elapsed since Lou's death will make it easier for people with information to divulge details to police," Lingrell said.

Even the smallest details may be the key to helping police solve the crime, Lingrell said.

Along with the vehicle, police also collected a couch and other evidence from Taylor's home. Taylor was found in his home by friends who decided to check on him after he failed to show up for coffee.

Although authorities have periodically received tips about the case, it has been difficult to solve.

The reward comes from criminal case money forfeited to both the Urbana Police Division's Law Enforcement trust fund and the Champaign County Prosecutor's Law Enforcement trust fund.

Taylor was born in Los Angeles in 1924 and served as a Navy pilot in World War II. His mother was a personal seamstress to Walt Disney.

Taylor graduated from the University of Missouri, where he met Betty Jane, his future wife. They were married 56 years until her death in 2005.

He lived in Urbana for more than 50 years and worked for Grimes Manufacturing, BPI and Field and Associates. He was also a 4-H and Boy Scout leader who enjoyed cycling, fishing, golf and the Tim Horton's Coffee Club.

Anyone with information is asked to call Urbana police at (937) 652-4364 or the police division's TIP line at (937) 652-4357. Callers are asked to leave your name and contact information where you can be reached. Those who wish to remain anonymous are also encouraged to call, but will not be subject to receiving the reward, Lingrell said.