The family of a young murder victim is pleading with the public for help in solving the gruesome crime.

The remains of 21-year-old Laura Jessome were found floating on the Mira River in a hockey bag on May 25 and police have yet to make an arrest in the case.

"This is Cape Breton, it is not a big place," says Laura's sister, Jamie Jessome. "Everybody knows everybody's business. Somebody knows something, please come forward."

While Jessome's family may not have answers, they do have renewed hope a break in the case may be near after Cape Breton Regional Police raided three Glace Bay homes on the weekend in connection with the investigation.

The raids included members of the Cape Breton Regional Police Emergency Response Team. The lead investigator in the case says the SWAT team was ready for trouble.

"Police have been there in the past and due to the nature of the crime and also the persons that were living in some of these places, we've had dealings in the past," says Staff Sgt. Mike Kennedy.

Neighbours say police had the raided properties under surveillance in the days before the searches. Evidence was seized in connection with the murder, but no one has been taken into custody.

"There hasn't been any arrests as of yet," says Kennedy. "Investigators are questioning lots and lots of people, still following up on any leads."

The raids are not the only Glace Bay connection to the murder.

The hockey bag containing Jessome's body was originally owned by a town resident who has been cleared of any involvement.

The origin of the bag, coupled with the searches, has added to concerns that one or more killers might be living in the area.

"I certainly hope not," says resident Joan Debison. "But if there is, I am confident police will find them and they'll bring them to justice."

"It should worry everybody in Glace Bay that this kind of thing is happening," says resident Marie McPhee.

The Jessome family is uncertain what involvement the victim may have had with anyone in Glace Bay, but they are convinced others do.

Barring major developments, police say the intensity of their investigation will lessen in the coming days. More than two dozen officers have been trying to crack the case.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Randy MacDonald