| In every community someone yearns for resolve and | | | | Another unsightly truth is many "Cold Case Squads" or |
| closure of society's most heinous crime-the unlawful | | | | "Unsolved Homicide Teams" are comprised of |
| killing of a human being. Yet few know why many | | | | experienced, veteran homicide detectives who are |
| homicides remain unsolved, or how a private citizen | | | | close to retirement, tired, burned-out, experiencing |
| can influence the outcome of an investigation. | | | | health problems, or in dire need of regular hours. |
| The simple and unpleasant reality is that homicide | | | | Special Agent Regini (in his article) speaks to just the |
| detectives-nationwide-are typically overwhelmed by | | | | opposite, and I applaud the FBI for their efforts to |
| their caseloads. With no break from a revolving on-call | | | | change the make-up of unsolved homicide teams. Yet |
| schedule, a steady diet of new cases and several | | | | the truth still widely remains: the "most experienced" |
| cases preparing for trial at any given time, big city | | | | homicide detectives are typically burned out. |
| homicide detectives simply cannot dedicate the time | | | | An additional problem is simple mathematics: every |
| necessary to solve every case. The unsolved | | | | large metropolitan law enforcement agency has a |
| cases-even recent cases with workable | | | | library of thousands of unsolved cases, and the |
| information-begin collecting dust as new cases redirect | | | | numbers grow each day. Meanwhile, these agencies |
| their time, energy and priorities. As days, weeks and | | | | typically staff one team for unsolved cases, usually |
| months pass, so do the good intentions of getting back | | | | comprised of no more than half-a-dozen investigators. |
| to "that one murder." | | | | Few cases are actually "reinvestigated" without new |
| That one murder may be that of your loved one. | | | | evidence or persistence from the family members of |
| Some cases will never be solved regardless of the | | | | the decedent. |
| effort put forth. Drug-related homicides and gang | | | | In order to have a case reopened by an unsolved |
| murders are among the more challenging, for various | | | | homicide team, a private citizen should start by |
| reasons: fearful, unwilling or uncooperative witnesses, | | | | contacting the supervisor of the appropriate |
| diminutive evidence, unsubstantiated motive, | | | | investigative unit to plea their case. If not satisfied with |
| anonymous offenders and random victims, to name a | | | | that supervisor's response, proceed to the captain or |
| few. However, when innocent victims (law-abiding | | | | commander of the homicide bureau or detective |
| citizens, children, the elderly, etc.) become victims of | | | | division. If still unsatisfied, take your case to the office |
| homicide, a tangible suspect and motive almost always | | | | of the sheriff or chief of police of that agency. |
| exists. The key to solving these murders is experience | | | | A viable alternative is hiring a private investigator |
| coupled with time and tenacity. | | | | experienced in homicide investigation. The investigator |
| According to the Department of Justice, Federal | | | | will gather all available reports and documentation in |
| Bureau of Investigation's Crime in the United States | | | | order to conduct a thorough review of the existing |
| 2005 report, the national solve rate of murder and | | | | investigation. At the conclusion of his review, the |
| non-negligent manslaughter cases of cities exceeding | | | | investigator should have a list of unanswered |
| 250,000 in population, was 56.5 percent. These | | | | questions and investigative suggestions for the client. |
| numbers don't vary much from year to year. It is likely | | | | At this point, the client may choose to revisit the |
| this statistic is elevated by the inclusion of | | | | responsible agency with a report of the case review |
| manslaughter cases where oftentimes the offender is | | | | to show cause that the case should be reopened, or |
| known by the victim. It is also fair to say the statistic | | | | the client may request the private investigator pursue |
| would be substantially higher if not for drug- and | | | | the case to conclusion. Either way, the unsolved case |
| gang-related murders. | | | | is off the shelf, so to speak. |
| The following excerpt is taken from an article titled | | | | A common tactic of homicide detectives is to ask |
| The Cold Case Concept written by FBI Special Agent | | | | others to review the investigation with a fresh set of |
| Charles L. Regini (posted on the FBI Website): | | | | eyes. During my tenure as a homicide detective I |
| Only the most experienced, innovative, and persistent | | | | approached many investigators with problem cases |
| investigators should work cold cases because these | | | | and had many approach me. On one particularly |
| cases, by their very nature, represent some of the | | | | difficult case, I asked a defense attorney whom I |
| most perplexing and frustrating investigations that | | | | trusted to read through my investigation for a |
| detectives face. These are the cases that other | | | | completely different view of the evidence; that was |
| extremely competent investigators could not solve. | | | | quite enlightening. Having a cold case reviewed is a |
| I would only argue that not all unsolved homicide "could | | | | very powerful tool that may rejuvenate a stalled |
| not" be solved by other competent investigators, rather | | | | investigation. It also drives home a point that is |
| many times those competent investigators had neither | | | | indisputable: There is no unsolved murder that doesn't |
| the time nor tenacity to solve those cases. | | | | deserve another look. |