Police in a New Jersey are offering a $5,000 reward for information in the murder of a woman who was found in a friend's home in late September.

Shawneeq Carter, 26, of Camden was house sitting in Woodbury on Saturday, September 23, 217 when she was killed, according to NJ.com.

A subsequent autopsy showed that Carter died as a result of blunt force trauma, the newspaper reports. To make matters worse, her 5-year-old son was inside the residence during the killing.

Authorities have not revealed whether the boy actually witnessed the murder.

During a vigil for Carter, a relative shed light on the victim's personality. "She was a loving person, a beautiful spirit," cousin Forest Cooper. told local media. "She was just an upbeat person who was full of life."

Golden Ike, Carter's best friend, said that she will be remembered for the wonderful person she was.

"She was just a great person and she didn't deserve this," Ike told NJ.com. "She was amazing. I want to know w o did this to her. I want to know who did this to my friend."

Ike told the newspaper that Carter's 5-year-old son is not doing well in the aftermath of the tragedy.

"He's traumatized. He keeps asking where his mom his," Ike said, as she tried to keep from crying. "Nobody knows what to tell him."

Anyone with information on the killing is asked to contact Detective Warren Rivell of the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office at 856-384-5625 or Detective Carl Villone of the Woodbury City Police Department at 856-845-0065.

“We will secure justice for Ms. Carter’s family,” Woodbury Police Chief Thomas Ryan said in announcing the reward offer, according to the Courier Post.

Anyone with information is asked to call Prosecutor’s Detective Patrick Goggin at (609) 929-1888 or (856) 384-5500, or Woodbury Police Detective Carl Villone at (609) 970-9107 or (856) 845-0065.