MCRAE-HELENA, Ga. — Nearly nine years have passed since Kevin Shurling vanished from McRae, Georgia, but his family refuses to give up hope for answers in a case that has left them haunted and frustrated with the investigation. According to authorities, Shurling, a 34-year-old carpenter, was last seen on Sept. 29, 2016, after his grandfather dropped him off near the health department following an argument with his grandmother. Despite extensive searches and years of pleas from his family, the case has gone cold with no new leads. Kevin's mother, Jacqueline Wise, is convinced her son was murdered by someone he knew. "Somebody murdered my child, and they know who they are," Wise said during an interview at her Dublin home. "I'm praying to the Lord that we get justice." Kevin lived with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but his family says he was a loving, caring person who followed a predictable routine. He typically only traveled between his mother's house and his grandparents' home in McRae. "Everybody that came in contact with Kevin loved him," Wise said. "He was a very caring person." According to family members, Kevin got into an argument with his grandmother on the day he disappeared. His cousin, Missy Hart, who was like a sister to Kevin, said his grandfather picked him up and drove him toward his mother's house. "His grandpa went and picked him up and told us that he took him near her house by the health department and then dropped him off," Hart said. "That was the last time anybody saw him." Police reportedly found a tote containing Kevin's clothes on Longbridge Road, but Kevin's mother questions that detail. "They said they found a tote with his clothes and stuff in it. Kevin didn't have that many clothes, you know what I'm saying," Wise said. "I've never seen that tote either, so none of that makes any sense." The family has expressed frustration with the scope of the investigation, saying police only searched for about two days before the case went cold. "We asked for the GBI to be called in to help with this investigation, and they would not do it," Hart said. "It was kind of like written off. He wasn't important enough for them to do a whole lot of police investigation." Both women believe Kevin was killed by someone he knew, possibly motivated by jealousy, though they say they have no concrete evidence. "I think somebody very close to him hurt him," Hart said. Given Kevin's mental health struggles and close family ties, his relatives say it's impossible he would have left voluntarily and stayed away this long. "Not with his mental state, there's no way," Wise said. "He never left us. He always was with us." After nearly nine years of uncertainty, Kevin's mother has one simple wish. "I want to bring Kevin home. I want to bring him and bury him in our family plot," she said. The family is pleading for anyone with information to come forward, even anonymously. "Please, please just reach out," Hart said. "Reach out to the police station, reach out to the TV station, reach out to us. Anything could break this case open." McRae-Helena Police Department confirmed the case remains open but has gone cold. Officials said they currently have no new leads and no plans to request assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Kevin Shurling would be 43 years old today. Anyone with information about his disappearance is asked to contact McRae-Helena Police Department at 229-868-2093.