Police believe they are on the verge of solving a brutal cold case murder that occurred 35 years ago. Ronda Blaylock was just 14-years-old in 1980 when she and a friend took a ride home from a stranger after finishing the day at Atkins High School in Rural Hall, North Carolina - a town so quaint and wholesome that it was the model for the fictional Mayberry in 'The Andy Griffith Show.' Her friend got dropped off first, but Ronda never made it back home. Three days later, her partially clothed body was discovered in a heavily wooded area almost 20 miles away from the bowling alley parking lot where she and her friend had hitched a ride. She had been violently assaulted and then stabbed to death. The man who gave her a ride home that day was never found. Scroll down for video . Ronda Blaylock (above) was just 14-years-old in 1980 when she was found stabbed to death and brutally assaulted . This after she and a friend had taken a ride home from a man (above) after school in Rural Hall, North Carolina . Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson (above) said in a press conference on Monday the man still lives in the area and they are close to getting him . The Camel City Dispatch reports that the investigation into Ronda's death was relaunched after her mother, Rebecca, called in to authorities recently to ask what progress had been made on her daughter's case. 'Within a day or so after receiving her call there were developments that I cannot discuss here today, but this task force is actively pursuing good leads,' Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson said in a press conference on Monday. What they already knew is that the man was in his early twenties back in 1980, drove a blue pickup truck with a white shell over the bed and went by Jimmy, though he told the girls his friends called him Butch. He would now be in his mid-to-late fifties. And while it has been years since the incident, some witnesses have been able to provide better information now than they could at the time the tragedy occurred. 'This is because they were young when this murder occurred and they feared getting into trouble with their parents or the law; they are no longer close with those who, in confidence, has discussed the homicide with them,' explained Sheriff Atkinson. 'The witnesses did not realize Ronda’s murder is still an open case.' More importantly, police can now test some of the DNA evidence from the scene, something they could not do back in 1980 due to a lack of technology. Ronda had been violently assaulted and stabbed to death when her body was found . The man was in his early twenties back in 1980, drove a blue pickup truck(similar to the one above)  with a white shell over the bed and went by Jimmy, though he told the girls his friends called him Butch . What's more, Sheriff Atkinson does not think law enforcement has to search far to find the man. 'We think he lived and still lives in the immediate area,' he said. 'We feel like he has blended into the community and he's lived with this for a long time and we're hoping he does the right thing and comes forward.' And if he does not come forward, Sheriff Atkinson has a message for him: 'Make no mistake. We are coming for you.' Ronda's mother meanwhile just wants closure after years of pain. 'I want them to be put in prison for the rest of their lives because I've been in prison, so to speak, for almost 35 years,' she said. Anyone who has information should contact rondablaylock1980@gmail.com or call the task force hotline (336)401-8971 .
Ronda Blaylock was just 14 years old in 1980 when she was found stabbed to death and brutally assaulted . This after she and a friend had taken a ride home from a man after school in Rural Hall, North Carolina . Town is some wholesome it was used as a model for Mayberry in 'The Andy Griffith Show' Her friend was dropped off but Ronda was never seen again . The man, now likely in his late fifties, has never been found . Now police say that new DNA evidence as well as testimony from key witnesses has them close to solving the case . Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson said in a press conference on Monday the man still lives in the area and they are close to finding him .