Cold Case Homicide Research Articles

“Who is Where?” Cold Case Investigation and Collaborations Between Law Enforcement and Academia

Innovative strategies can be utilized to investigate unsolved homicides, particularly through translational criminology. We present a case study of a collaboration developed between faculty and students in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University and Michigan State Police’s First District in Lansing, Michigan. We highlight the benefits of including academics and students in these investigations and explore and critique the methodology we utilized to review a 41-year-old cold case homicide. We argue that these teams are a valuable resource with implications for the criminal justice system, the legitimacy of law enforcement, and the victims and their families.

Cold case homicides and assigning priority for investigation: a review of available literature

PurposeThe purpose of this scoping literature review was to identify and consolidate all available theories and methods for cold case homicide evaluation, solvability and priority ranking that would serve to guide a broader exploratory study and future research.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents the findings of a scoping literature review. The review forms part of a broader exploratory study. The scoping literature review sought to identify reported evidence from the extant literature in identifying and defining key concepts relevant to cold prioritisation. It also sought to identify any knowledge gaps relevant to the scoping review question.FindingsThe review suggested that internationally, there is a wide variance and inconsistency in the processes, methods and criteria used by policing agencies to evaluate and prioritise cold cases for investigation. Despite this, there were four themes that could be regarded as [parameters for future cold case research: cold case evaluation and review, prioritisation methods, solvability and prioritisation systems and tools. The review revealed several gaps in the literature. No papers could be found discussing the allocation of individual priority rankings based on any kind of weighted criteria system or model. Further, no information could be found in the available literature on any automated systems, online tools, algorithms, or applications utilised when evaluating or prioritising cases.Research limitations/implicationsThe research results are limited in that it is possible that relevant extant literature exists that was not discoverable using the scoping review search strategy.Practical implicationsThe paper is a part of a broader exploratory study that seeks to develop a framework for cold case prioritisation that, in a time where public scrutiny has increased, has increased transparency with clearly articulated criteria for evaluation and process.Originality/valueThis paper assimilates the extant literature associated with cold case evaluation and prioritisation and presents a summary of themes and gaps in knowledge that informs future research.

Cold Case: Factors That Promote Case Solvability

The killing of one person by another is a topic that attracts a lot of media interest in our society. It is the responsibility of law enforcement officials to find solutions to these offenses, or at least find the perpetrators of such heinous crimes and bring them to justice. Despite the fast rise of forensics and the technology that goes with it, there are still unsolved instances of murders whose investigations have stalled for more than a year without apprehension of a perpetrator or the full appreciation of the circumstances leading to those incidents. Such murders/homicides are often referred to as cold cases. A retrospective study based on article reviews was conducted to explore characteristics that enhance cold case solvability, in order to determine which factors; forensic evidence or investigation technique has a larger impact on the clearance of cold case homicides. Basically, solvability factors refer to information about a case that aid in “clearing and closing” same (Moran & Llc, n.d.). Cold cases and the solution to unsolved homicides have piqued the interest of numerous law enforcement organizations in recent years. However, there has been little to no research done to determine the number of cases in Ghana and the elements that contribute to effective resolutions. Law enforcement and others have been working nonstop to resolve some of these cases. This paper aims to explore the factors that promote cold case solvability, thus factors that influence the selection of cold cases for investigations with a significant degree of solving such. The study found that research literature on cold case solvability was limited, mostly outdated, and largely not supported by scientific and empirical data. Furthermore, it found that available research provided no empirical or scientific proof of specific factors that can improve or influence cold case solvability, except for proposed solvability matrixes. It concluded that there is a need for further research to close the gap in literature related to characteristics and factors of cold cases/unsolved homicides that can help investigators to solve or achieve justiciable closure to cold case homicides.

ACJS 2020 Presidential Address: From Local to Global: Scaling Up and Expanding Out the Study of Unresolved Homicides

A plea for scaling up (i.e., examining the global dimensions) and expanding out (i.e., considering indirect, alternative and complementary measures) of local crime and criminal justice phenomena is made in this paper. The implications and benefits of doing so are illustrated by utilizing the study of unresolved (or cold case) homicides, which are usually conceived as events responsive to localized co-victim, police, and prosecutorial actions. Cross-nationally, the homicide rate is found to be significantly correlated to the formal contact rate and conviction rate (i.e., as indicators of criminal justice system responsiveness to such cases). Inter-woven with the discussion is a personal narrative of how the author came to develop an interest in this and related topics.

COLD CASE HOMICIDES IN POLAND - POSSIBILITIES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH AND IMPROVEMENT

Currently, there are over a thousand unsolved homicide cases in Poland. Up to this point, numerous, mostly popular science, research papers have been focusing on the individual units in charge of these difficult cases. This paper, however, is an attempt to represent the current state of investigations that were discontinued due to the fact that the perpetrators could not be found, hereinafter referred to as Cold Case Homicides. This paper depicts both the researcher's perspective and the statistical side of such conduct. Furthermore, it presents the first results of a pilot study conducted among the prosecutors, concerning the problem of Cold Case Homicides from their perspective, the possibility of cooperation with the academics, and their opinion on the idea of complex research, concerning the reconstruction of events in this specific area of crime.

A standard operating procedure (SOP), for soil sampling, for the detection of volatile organic compounds and leachate associated with human decomposition from a shallow, unmarked, homicide grave

Abstract The aim of this paper is to provide a forensic geology standard operating procedure (SOP) for the collection of soil, for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and leachate associated with decomposing human remains in a shallow, unmarked, homicide grave. This assumes that human remains undergo partial or complete decomposition after burial and that the VOCs and leachate plumes generated subsequently migrate from the grave. These are expected to be influenced by several factors, including for example the cause of death, time elapsed since burial, climate and weather, topography, geological characteristics of the soils and bedrock, hydrogeology and taphonomy. This SOP has been used in a number of high-profile police and law enforcement searches (see for example Donnelly et al. 2020. Analysis of soil following a police-led open area search and the recovery of a cold case homicide grave, Forensic Soil Science and Geology , 492 , https://doi.org/10.1144/SP492-2017-337 ). This approach remains experimental and further research and operational test work are recommended at known (recovered) homicide graves. This might become applicable as a future reconnaissance method applied to searches taking place over large areas to help reduce the preliminary search area where VOC and leachates are detectable.

How Do Different Case Conclusions Impact on Survivors of Homicide? Developing and Applying a Conceptual Framework to Organize Current Empirical Knowledge

Supporting families and friends of homicide victims (‘survivors’) requires understanding how homicide impacts on survivors. Although recent work has examined how the loss of a loved one and events following a homicide—such as media coverage, the criminal justice processes and the perpetrator’s sentence—affects survivors, there has been little consideration of how final ‘case conclusions’ (other than the perpetrator’s sentence)—such as homicide–suicide, cold-case homicide or perpetrator declared permanently unfit for trial or acquitted of murder or manslaughter—impacts on survivors. This article examines existing literature about how different final case conclusions, other than the perpetrator’s sentence, impact on survivors. A novel conceptual framework—the ‘Homicide Case Pathway’—is presented to organize these efforts. There are shared and diverse effects of final case conclusions on survivors, centred on five key themes—emotions and feelings, denial of justice, lack of closure, belief in the system and hope. There is a clear need to conduct further research into the effect of final case conclusions on survivors, in order to better understand survivors’ experiences, and subsequently identify and implement suitably tailored victim support strategies for survivors.

Exploring Cold Case Homicide Survivors’ Perceptions of and Relationships With Law Enforcement

Given the nature of unsolved homicide, a complicated dynamic exists between survivors of cold case homicides and law enforcement personnel. The current study utilizes interviews with 24 survivors to explore the perceptions associated with this relationship. Employing a grounded theory framework, we find several themes depicted within these narratives that guide survivors' overall perceptions of their relationship with law enforcement, including investigative and communication efforts. Results indicate that the survivors universally perceive original detectives were incompetent or ineffective in their original investigation, thus leading to the unsolved status of their case. Over time, secondary and current investigators were also perceived as unable to properly investigate, due to challenges such as insufficient evidence or simply not conducting a comprehensive examination of the case. Regardless of this negative view of police activity on the case, relationships were defined by the level and nature of communication survivors had with their detective. Families who felt listened to, included, and/or valued reported a positive relationship with police that allowed them to trust their case was in good hands. Participants who perceived communication to be secretive, misleading, or completely absent noted strained relationships and further disappointment. Survivors may adopt roles, such as investigator, spokesperson, or advocate, to help compensate for their perception that the case is not properly cared for by police. With regard to grief progress and health of cold case homicide survivors, it is possible treatment by law enforcement outweighs the significant of case resolution years after the homicide. Recommendations for more productive survivor/police interactions are included.

Cold Case Homicide with Paternity as an Investigative Lead (People of State of New York v. Robert Symonds, Jr.)

Cold Case Homicide with Paternity as an Investigative Lead (People of State of New York v. Robert Symonds, Jr.)

Cold Case Homicides: DNA Testing of Retained Autopsy Sexual Assault Smears.

Archival medical examiner specimens may contain perpetrator DNA evidence useful in unsolved ("cold case") homicides. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) histology slide archives were searched for sexual assault smears for all 376 female homicides from 1990 to 1999. Of these, the OCME had sexual assault smears on 84 of which 13 slides had sperm. Of these 13, six were still unsolved. DNA profiles were obtained on all six (5 from smears and one from swabs). Combined DNA Index System ( submission resulted in two matches ("hits") for new suspects. In addition, three suspects were eliminated in two cases. Our review of archival sexual assault smears resulted in DNA profiles that were able to assist in the investigation of four cold case homicide investigations. It may be worthwhile for medical examiner offices to search their archival histology slides for sexual assault smears on previously unsolved cases particularly those prior to the mid-1990s when DNA testing was less widely available.

Envisioning Justice: The Complex Journey of Cold Case Homicide Survivors.

While police make an arrest in the majority of homicide cases occurring annually in the United States, a portion remain unsolved and are eventually classified as "cold cases." Family members of the victims are not only left grieving the loss of their loved ones, but also plagued by the knowledge that the murderer has yet to be officially identified or held accountable. How do these family members-cold case homicide survivors-navigate their open-ended journey through grief? Using a social constructivist approach, we analyze in-depth interviews with 24 cold case homicide survivors to describe the unique dimensions of their experience, including how their hopes are tied to understandings of achieving justice for their loved ones. Three themes emerge from their narratives: a certainty that the killers will be identified; a demand for the harshest punishment possible; and an underlying anxiety about what the identification of the offender will ultimately mean for them. We consider the implications of survivors' expectations for the future, especially for their relationships with the police, other family members, and the criminal justice process in general.

Exploring the relationship between cold case homicide survivors and the media

After a homicide, survivors are thrust into relationships with a myriad of professionals. For cold case homicide survivors, these relationships are likely to develop into long-term, persistent interactions. Interviews from 24 cold case homicide survivors in the United States reveal that media professionals are often the source of additional trauma, and yet, most survivors expressed a need for continued communication and continued coverage of their case. Utilizing social constructivist grounded theory for data collection and analysis, common themes emerging from the survivors’ stories include inadequate coverage of the case, inaccurate portrayal of victim or information, negative reactions to the media, and positive experiences and desire for long-term coverage. Implications and recommendations for survivors and media professionals are detailed within.

"The Police Have Given Up": An Empirical Examination of Covictims' Beliefs About Cold Case Homicide Investigations.

This work examines the perception by cold case homicide covictims that police have given up trying to solve their loved one's murder. A random sample (n = 65) of cold case homicide covictims is surveyed to determine if, and how, different forms of communication may be important in their perceptions about police. Ordered logistic regression analyses indicate that perceived importance of the information communicated, frequency of police contact, and satisfaction with communication efforts by police are inversely correlated with covictims' perceptions that police have given up on the investigation. These inverse correlations persist despite statistical controls and have important implications for the bereavement of covictims and for crime rates.

Faith without answers: the use of religion among cold case homicide survivors.

Through data gathered from interviews with cold case homicide survivors, this article reveals the important role of religion and faith in the aftermath of an unsolved murder. Using qualitative methodology, the author highlights the lived experiences and personal journeys of cold case homicide surviving family members, who are often a forgotten and an overlooked segment of victims. Qualitative data suggests that these cold case homicide survivors found religion to be critical in the aftermath of their loved one's murder. Specifically, survivors indicated their faith was fundamental in coping with the homicide and provided hope for anticipating a resolution in their cases. From these intimate, personal survivor accounts, scholars and practitioners can begin to develop future research and programs that are specifically designed to highlight the role of religion in moving forward after an unsolved murder.

Grief in Comparison: Use of Social Comparison Among Cold Case Homicide Survivors

The current qualitative study examines the use of social comparison among cold case homicide survivors as a method of defining their grief. Twenty-four cold case homicide survivors completed in-depth interviews about the trauma of living with an unsolved homicide. Survivors compared themselves to individuals coping with non-homicidal deaths and fellow homicide survivors. Results indicate survivors of unsolved homicides utilize downward elevation, lateral comparison, and upward contacts in their journey of grief and coping. The direction and type of comparison can have both positive and negative effects on the survivors' views of self and progress made towards emotional recovery. Implications are discussed.

Cold Case Homicide with Paternity as an Investigative Lead (People of State of New York v. Robert Symonds, Jr.)

J Forensic Res Crime Stud 2014 | Vol 1: 102 In 2009, a New York jury convicted a forty three year old Florida man of murder for the death of a Bronx man in February 1994, fifteen years after the incident [1]. Louis Moscatelli was found murdered at his home on 2553 Tendroeck Avenue where he was stabbed thirty nine times and had his throat slit during a fight and struggle. The victim has been heard shouting “no, Bob, don’t hit me” for approximately twenty minutes before the neighbourhood became silent again. The first scene of the crime was in the bathroom where the victim was found. In the dining room area, there was blood from an ashtray and three bloodlike stains from the floor were collected for further analysis. A trail of blood led out the door, droplets of blood were found on the concrete walk outside and at the second scene at 2559 Tendroek Avenue where bloodstains were located on the shower curtain and bath mat. The main question in this case became who did the blood belong to? Was someone bleeding when they exited the house or did the blood droplets come from a dripping knife? Since this was a cold case, the original testing did not include DNA but did include ABO blood typing and isoenzyme analysis, both protein-based tests used by serologists to classify the potential number of blood sources at a scene.