On the morning of Nov. 2, 2008, Alex Tillman called his mother to say he was going to vote early after learning he didn't have to clock in at his part-time job at Taco Bell.

The teen, who worked at the fast-food restaurant at 35th Street and Biscayne Boulevard, was excited about voting for the first time and proud to be casting a ballot for Barack Obama in the historic election.

Two days later, on Election Day, Tillman's family got devastating news: a homeless man had discovered Tillman's burned body by a set of railroad tracks at North Miami Avenue near 21st Street. At age 18, Tillman was dead.

Today, the case remains unsolved, say police, who are frustrated with the public's silence over the teen's slaying.

``It's just been very, very quiet as far as help from the community,'' said Miami homicide Sgt. Armando Aguilar Jr.

Tillman wasn't involved with drugs or gangs, police said, and was well liked among classmates and teachers at Booker T. Washington High School where he was a senior.

``I find it very hard to swallow months later, whoever did it hasn't told a soul, hasn't bragged,'' Aguilar said. ``I think there are people out there who know exactly who did it.''

He said at least one anonymous call was made to the Taco Bell after the slaying from someone with ``pretty intimate knowledge of the case.'' For Tillman's family, the loss of a loved one who had so much life ahead of him has been painful. He would have turned 19 on Monday.

Tillman's mother, Tawana Fairell, 36, still cries most nights.

``Not knowing who and why,'' she says with an exasperated tone in her voice.

The teen's grandfather, Ernest Tillman, grieves and grapples with so many questions about his grandson's final hours.

``I think, did he suffer?'' the grandfather asks.

He added: ``We might not ever find out why, but we need to know who.''

The Sunday before his death, Tillman called his mom to say a supervisor at Taco Bell had told him to take the day off and that he was going to go vote early. He said he was at a friend's house in Overtown and would later meet up with his family.

He had been ``all about Obama,'' Fairell said.

His family never heard from him again.

Family members think the killing may be be related to a girl.

``He was a nice-looking man and the girls liked him,'' the grandfather said. ``It swelled his head. I couldn't see any reason anyone would do this, except out of jealousy.''

Born in Miami, Alex was raised by his mom and was particularly close to Ernest Tillman, his paternal grandfather.

He had four brothers, one older. His maturity earned him the nickname ``Li`l Man.'' At 11, he comforted his mom as she grieved at her sister's funeral.

As he grew older, he helped out around the house -- driving his mother to work or classes and later picking her up, cooking dinner and acting as a father figure to his younger brothers.

He'd keep tabs on his mom, concerned for her safety if her cellphone was off or she was home later than expected.

When they argued, he'd tape an apology, written on notebook paper, to her door.

Sometimes mother and son double dated. He often shared things teenage boys wouldn't tell their mothers.

Tillman and his grandson were equally close, almost like a father and son.

Tillman recalled teaching his grandson to drive on a blue '88 Oldsmobile in the parking lot at Booker T. Washington. It would be Alex's first car. After he died, Tillman sold it for $200; he couldn't bear to have it around.

The week before he was killed, Tillman and his mom went to Miami Dade College's medical campus to sign up for classes. He wanted to be a pediatrician, his mother said.

Actually, he wanted to join the Marines, his grandfather said, he just didn't want his mom to know.

``He was so anxious to get his senior year over,'' Tillman said, sitting at a picnic table at Charles Hadley Park.

The park at 1300 NW 50th St. was the same park the family chose to hold Alex's wake.

The family had been planning his graduation for months. Fairell said she wanted to be the first in line for a seat in the back -- the prime spot to yell down and embarrass her son. At the funeral, her son wore his graduation cap and gown.

Said the teen's grandfather: ``They took a good person and they need to be punished for it.''

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami Homicide Detective Orlando Benitez at 305-603-6350 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

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