SURREY - Patrick Martin's family is hoping his killer has a conscience.

Police believe the 41-year-old man, who lived in the Tri-Cities area, was assaulted elsewhere before being dumped in a back alley near David Brankin Elementary school in Whalley, in the 12800-block of 92A Avenue, on Jan. 11.

A passer-by found him just after 8 a.m., suffering from severe head wounds. He was lying on a maroon-coloured blanket. It's not known how long he'd been there. He was unconscious when police arrived and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Martin's brother Brian Martin, and sister and brother-in-law Sandra and Jim Bryant, made a public plea Tuesday for information that would identify the killer or killers.

"He was left alone to die with nobody around him," Brian said. "Nobody deserves to be left like that."

Patrick Martin had a criminal history and struggled with drug addiction.

Sgt. Jennifer Pound, spokeswoman for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, said investigators believe he was killed as a result.

"He made some bad choices in his life," she said.

But according to his family, Martin was also a well-loved brother, son and friend. He was the youngest of seven children.

"The role he was most proud of being was a father to his four children and a loving husband to his wife," his brother Brian said.

"We want answers. His children deserve to know what happened to their dad."

His 74-year-old mother, who is in poor health, is also desperate to know who killed her youngest child, and why.

"Somebody out there knows something," Brian said. The family is counting on "that one person" to come forward, and call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-IHIT.

Sandra Bryant echoed that plea. "People out there, I know they have hearts, and I just know that they'll talk," she said. "Please help us find out who did this, because it's really wrong."

Patrick Martin had worked as a crane operator, in construction, and also worked on fishing boats. "He was just a working machine," Brian said. "He was five times faster and better than anybody else."

Said Sandra, "He was a good guy - he really was."

Meanwhile, police are hoping someone will recognize the fleecy blanket Martin was found on. It's a maroon or "deep wine colour" and was likely used to cover a queen-sized bed, Pound noted.

It has a "satiny" ribbon and nondescript label.

tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com