The State Attorney’s Office for the 4th Judicial Circuit will use a $470,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant to pursue justice in violent crime cold cases, some dating back more than 25 years.
The grant, provided by the department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, is directed primarily for investigative activities and prosecution of violent crime cold cases where DNA from a suspect was identified.
The grant application states: “The SAO completed an analysis of its cold cases, determining there were 740+ pending cold cases from 1995 to 2016. Of these, 90 were close contact homicides containing DNA.”
An unsolved homicide is considered a cold case when it’s not resolved in three years.
In a news release, State Attorney Melissa Nelson said cold cases are challenging to investigate and rewarding to solve.
“Family members never forget and neither do we. This funding will help us continue our search for truth and bring answers to their loved ones,” said Nelson.
The State Attorney’s Office began its Cold Case Initiative in 2017 to evaluate how unresolved cases are reviewed and to develop processes to solve those cases.
The initiative included a nationwide review of other jurisdictions to develop best practices. Attorneys leading the initiative, with a team of law enforcement officials and forensic experts, have begun to analyze the cold cases in Clay, Duval and Nassau counties to determine potential solvability based on several factors, including DNA evidence.
The cases will be reviewed and reevaluated to determine whether new forensic examination methods present viable investigative opportunities.
“Through this comprehensive approach, the SAO will leverage resources and partnerships to re-examine and solve cases, implement procedures that will prevent a backlog of this magnitude from reoccurring, and pursue justice for violent cold cases,” the grant application states.