A Limestone County Sheriff’s investigator and a Huntsville FBI agent are trying to determine who spray-painted a racial slur on an Elkmont woman’s garage door on Dec. 31.

Sheriff Mike Blakely said Investigator Jeff Kilpatrick and the FBI agent were interviewing a person Thursday in connection with the case. A reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who perpetrated the act.

“We had quite a few people call in with some information, and we are trying to sort out if it is information of any value or whether it is hearsay,” the sheriff said. “I feel good about the investigation but we still have a lot of work until we can say who did it.”

Homeowner Terry Turner, who lives in the 27000 block of Bethel Road, told investigators she and her granddaughter were in the back bedroom of her home about 10:50 p.m. when they heard the crash of breaking glass. Believing someone was breaking into the home, she dialed 911 and fled with her granddaughter to the backyard from the bedroom window.

When deputies arrived, they found three windows broken and the phrase “Move (racial slur) now” spray painted on the garage door.

Turner, who is African-American, has lived at the home for about eight years.

The FBI offered its assistance in case the investigation determines the act was a hate crime, Blakely said. In which case, federal charges could be brought against the suspect.

At this point, investigators are running down leads to see if they can find who did it, the sheriff said.

“They will develop suspects and eliminate people and if they have a person of interest they will try to establish whether they are the person who did this,” Blakely said.

The sheriff would not disclose whether the investigators had a person of interest.

He said he appreciated the FBI’s help.

“It’s good to have another pair of shoes on the ground because we have other cases (meaning the Sheriff’s Office has many active cases ongoing).

The community rallied to the support of the victim.

After it occurred, 32 online donors raised $1,000 to help Turner, 51, repair her property.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 256-232-0111.