Defrosting Cold Cases

This morning, I read an article written by the attorney Marc Randazza for CNN and it hit home. I quote: “The First Amendment requires neither tact nor politeness. It requires that we permit all views to set up stalls in the marketplace of ideas, and we let that marketplace decide which ideas prevail.” It is my right to [...]

Tags: freedom of speech, Marc Randazza, Unsolved Homicide

The long awaited trial in the cases of Keith Combs and Eugene Ellis has started. “Edward Jesus Elias and Leopoldo Castro Chavez II, both 36, are each charged with two counts of murder in the Sept. 25, 1993, deaths of 20-year-old Eugene “Cliff” Ellis and 23-year-old Keith Combs. The victims were stationed aboard the aircraft [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Ballistics, California, Crime Scene, DNA, Eugene Ellis, Evidence, Forensics, Keith Combs, Unsolved Homicide, Victim

If you click on the link here you can see that the request for DNA has been denied. It states: “Denying Successive Petition for DNA Testing Pursuant to FLA.STAT. 925.11(1)(a).” NOTE: for some reason the page keeps changing. If you see the general search page, go to “all cases records search” and fill in Tommy’s [...]

Tags: Actual Innocence, Capital Punishment, Crime Scene, Death Row, DNA, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Forensics, Identification, Miscarriage of Justice, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, William Thomas Zeigler, Witnesses, Wrongful Convictions

So good to be back! Again, the hour moved fast and our friends on their mobiles had quite a struggle to keep up. But that does not matter. I am very glad they were all there. We discussed some DCC news and the “no progress” in the Zeigler case to move over to so many [...]

Tags: Alice Hawkes, Autopsy, Crime Scene, Finger Printing, Forensics, Identification, Missing Person, Nancy Grunwaldt, Police, Unsolved Homicide, William Thomas Zeigler

This recap is courtesy of Sue Carney! Today saw a massive turnout of cold case live chat stalwarts, old and new, for a regular-style cold case brainstorming session. Sadly, just as chat began, Vidster had received the tragic news of the death of his friend Phillip Finch, staunch supporter in the Zeigler case. As Vidster quite [...]

Tags: Alice Hawkes, Autopsy, Crime Labs, Crime Scene, Evidence, Forensics, Maine, Unsolved Homicide, Victim

The first Sum it up! for 2012 and I got a lot to share with you. First of all, another police department has decided to place all their cold cases online with information for the public. The Syracuse Police Department and the Criminal Investigations Division have established the Cold Case Unit with an email address and a telephone [...]

Tags: Arson Detection, Cameron Todd Willingham, Capital Punishment, Crime Labs, Evidence, Forensics, Han Tak Lee, Sum it Up!, Unsolved Homicide

Tragedy has struck the Meredith family again. Very early this morning, Brandon Meredith was found dead at his sister’s home. Brandon was Trisha‘s brother whose cold case can be found here on DCC. The cause of Brandon’s death is still unknown and details will follow later. Trisha’s case is not forgotten. During his life, Brandon [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Crime Scene, Cruelty, DNA, Evidence, Forensics, Identification, Indiana, Investigations Division, Police, Trisha Meredith, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

Since 1974, the Caughlin Family has been wondering why their beloved 14 year old Karen had to die. To this date, there are no answers. Maybe we will never get the answers we need but then again, it might be possible with the help of some special people. The Caughlin Family would like to have [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Canada, Crime Scene, Evidence, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Karen Caughlin, Michigan, OPP, Police, Sarnia, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

From the New York Times: “In an opinion that harshly criticizes the tactics of the police and prosecutors, an Illinois appellate court on Friday night reversed the conviction of Juan Rivera, who has spent 19 years in jail for the 1992 rape and murder of an 11-year-old baby sitter in a suburb of Chicago. There [...]

Tags: Actual Innocence, Autopsy, Crime Labs, Crime Scene, DNA, DNA Database, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Faulty Evidence, Finger Printing, Forensics, Identification, Illinois, Investigations Division, Juan Rivera, Miscarriage of Justice, Police, Prisons, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Rape kits, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses, Wrongful Convictions

  Rockford Police (IL) are going to set up a cold case website next year! “Over the years in Rockford, hundreds of murder cases have gone unsolved and many leads have now gone cold. The Rockford Police are in the process of setting up a new website they hope will help them close the book [...]

Tags: Crime Scene, DNA, Evidence, Forensics, Illinois, Investigations Division, Missing Person, Police, Rockford, Unidentified, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses