Defrosting Cold Cases

Investigators will check whether any materials found at the scene can be tested with modern technology. On Christmas Eve, Dec 24th, 1991, Mrs. Betty Gene Hull was found dead. She was 68 years old. When police arrived, it was immediately clear that whoever is responsible for her death was in a rage and the attack was [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Betty Gene Hull, Champaign, Crime Scene, DNA, Evidence, Finger Printing, Forensics, Identification, Illinois, Investigations Division, Police, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

One of the strangest cases that I worked on is the unsolved homicide of Mr. McHenry Biggers. Nothing in the file makes sense. The people we spoke to did not make sense. What we found out did not make sense either. That is, what we were able to find. This is, alas, one of those [...]

Tags: Champaign, Crime Scene, Drugs, Evidence, Finger Printing, Forensics, Illinois, Investigations Division, McHenry Biggers, Partial Finger Printing, Police, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

On December 7, 1995, between 6 and 7 pm, Mr. Simmons’ neighbour heard shouting next door. Considering that Mr. Simmons led a quiet life, the shouting was unusual. In fact, it was so unusual that it made her open the bi-fold door to the furnace area to hear what was being said in the apartment [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Champaign, Crime Scene, Evidence, Finger Printing, Forensics, Illinois, Police, Shawn Simmons, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

On December 9, 1986, Kimberly Ann Thompson (Kim) was reported missing by her parents, Barbara and Clyde Thompson. The last time they had heard from their daughter was on December 1, 1986, when her father dropped her off at her house. Her boyfriend later told police that he had not seen her since the beginning of [...]

Tags: Champaign, Dental Charts, Drugs, Illinois, Kimberly Ann Thompson, Missing Persons, Police, Victim, Witnesses

Dispatch never expected to hear this call. When police arrived, they found one of their own near Interstate 57; patrol man Robert Tatman, dead. He was 27 years old, married with children. On November 25, 1967, police found Tatman lying on his back in front of his own squad car, its motor still running, it’s revolving [...]

Tags: Champaign, DNA, Finger Printing, Forensics, Gun Fire, Illinois, Murder Weapon, Paraffin Test, Partial Finger Printing, Police, Robert L. Tatman, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

On Christmas Eve, Dec 24th, 1991, Mrs. Betty Gene Hull was found dead. She was 68 years old. When police arrived, it was immediately clear that whoever is responsible for her death was in a rage and the attack was personal. The attack may have started by knocking Mrs. Hull unconscious, possibly with a TV tray [...]

Tags: Betty Gene Hull, Champaign, Female, Illinois, Knife Attack, Polygraph, Unsolved Homicide

On Sunday December 21, 1986 at 00:14 a.m., Eric Beasley was pronounced dead at Burham Hospital. He died of multiple gun shot wounds. His body was found on Saturday December 20, 1986 around 23:45 p.m. on North Randolph Street, Champaign, IL.

Tags: Antimony, Barium, Champaign, Colt .32, DNA, Drugs, Eric Dennis Beasley, FBI, Finger Printing, Forensics, Illinois, Informants, Police, Sources, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses