Hundreds of people are getting away with murder in Minnesota. You read that right. Hundreds.
Some killers are out on the streets while others may be locked up for another crime -- or dead. It's easy to forget these cases, if you weren't directly affected. However, I have met many of the victims' families over lots of years on the crime beat. I can tell you what a painful loss they continue to live with long after the murder has faded from the news (if it even got covered at the time). Not having justice only deepens their hurt.
Families find hope with the success of DNA and other advances in forensic science. The St. Paul Police Department is the latest law enforcement agency in this state trying to do something to finally bring justice to the victims and their families. (BCA and Minneapolis also have cold case units.)
With about $250,000 in funding from a U.S. Department of Justice grant, St. Paul Police have hired a dozen retired investigators to come out of retirement for a little while and focus on about 100 cold cases. I got to meet with some of them at their first "roll call" last month. The group includes some true legends of the department who some former colleagues call former "rock stars" in the investigative ranks. Some of them retired just a few months ago; others have been gone for over a decade.
The investigators are getting paid for their work as civilian analysts. But talking with them, I am sure a lot of them would do it for free. As one former investigator told me, you never remember the cases you solve. You remember the ones who worked on 'round the clock and still couldn't solve or get enough evidence to lead to charges. It stays with you.
The supervisor of the Cold Case Unit, Sgt. Anita Muldoon, has already submitted several cases to the Minnesota BCA for testing for possible DNA. She is very optimistic that bringing together some of the best retired investigators, along with DNA advances, will get some breaks in cases that go back over 30 years.
Some of the cold cases, including the chloroform murders of Diana Smith and Scott Jones back in 1981, I covered when they were new murders (and I was a new reporter). A lot has changed over the years, including the growth of DNA as a forensic tool and the Internet as a communication tool. These changes give me hope that some day I will be able to re-interview victims' families who finally have word of justice for their loved ones.
The St. Paul Police union is challenging the use of the former officers for civilian positions. They are asking a judge to grant an injunction to stop their use and put current officers in those investigative jobs. We will keep you posted on this legal battle and any developments on the 100 cold cases getting a fresh look.
LINKS:
Cold Case Page
Experienced Eyes To Take Fresh Look At Cold Cases (12/01/2008)
Minnesota Releasing Cold Case Playing Cards (10/27/2008)
Former WCCO Producer Writes Murder Mystery (06/26/2008)
Cold Case: The 2 Susans In Highland Park (05/13/2008)
Cold Case Unit To Look At 2 Eerily Linked Murders (05/13/2008)
Cold Case: Chloroform Murders (02/27/2006)
I-TEAM: New Technology Could Help Solve Old Case (11/15/2005)
