RAVENSDALE, Wash. — Days after a 53-year-old man from Ravensdale was murdered, family and friends gathered Sunday to remember his life with a candlelight vigil.

His wife, Tanie Valison, identified the man as Nick Valison.

"He was a family man, husband of 29 years, married to his college sweetheart," Jesse Turner, a friend of the family said. "He helped his wife through cancer and has two lovely daughters, 22 and 14, and thought the world of them."

RELATED: Investigation underway into mysterious killing of 53-year-old Ravensdale man

"Just fantastic human that was tragically taken from us through a senseless act that didn't need to happen," Turner said. "His smile would brighten any room he came in and if you met him for a second, he was your friend for life."

According to the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), a 911 caller alerted first responders to a situation near the intersection of 329th Place Southeast and 327th Way Southeast around 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 21. Investigators said the man who who lived in the area was killed and the case was being investigated as a homicide, though officials did not say how he was killed.

Video from the KOMO News Air4 helicopter shows a U-Haul truck and a discarded fridge close to where the man's body was found, but investigators have not confirmed if the truck is connected to the man's death.

According to a posting in the Ravensdale neighborhood Facebook group, the KCSO is asking anyone with video footage of the following roads at the below times to contact them so investigators can review the footage:

• The loop of 272nd (SE Kent Kangley) and Retreat-Kanasket Road, and Cumberland Kanasket Road SE on Sept. 21 between 6:30-8:30 a.m.
• 336th Street to the power lines and main roads, all the way through Selleck and Lavender Loop, on Sept. 21 between 1-3 p.m.

Gary and Susan Smith said neighbors have been on alert after issues with people illegally dumping in the area.

"We have people just abandon cars, they'll abandon boats, travel trailers," the Smiths said.

Ravensdale is a rural community in southeast King County, and nobody KOMO News spoke to Thursday could recall there ever being a murder in the neighborhood.

This isn't anything I really ever thought would hit this close to home," one neighbor said. "When we moved out here 30 years ago, you never locked your doors.

The KCSO released a statement Monday saying they are "immensely saddened at the tragic loss of one of our community members." The department is asking anyone with information about the homicide to contact their office at 206-296-3311.

"We are asking for the communities help in finding those responsible for this senseless crime. All community members can leave tips on crime stoppers," the KCSO said in a statement. "The King County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is actively leading this investigation. To maintain the integrity of the investigation, no information is ready for release currently."