Defrosting Cold Cases (DCC) is about unsolved homicides, missing persons, unidentified persons, wrongful convictions, and forensics as applied to unsolved cases. I also write book reviews.
What is a cold case?
A cold case involves an investigation where despite tremendous efforts of the authorities no new leads are available. All existing avenues have been explored and are exhausted.
The case is not closed as there is no statute of limitation on murder. However, it needs new evidence, leads, or new technology that makes it possible to test well-preserved evidence for biological materials such as touch DNA.
Why do these cases need your attention?
Many cold cases have no web presence or a limited one. With the Internet as a primary source for information gathering it is crucial that those developing new technologies can find these old unsolved cases.
Many things have changed in the past few decades. Old but properly preserved evidence can be tested for DNA and it has made a huge difference. Cross-referenced databases of the missing and the unidentified have provided answers as well. Familial DNA and ancestry databases help further the investigations.
Website features
My databases are updated with every new post. However, not every case is updated in a new post. If one detail changes such as a court date, I do not write a new post but update the information in the database so check there first.
Every month, I feature a “Case of the Month.” This can be an unsolved homicide, a missing person, an unidentified person, new technology, or a wrongful conviction. You can find the link in the menu bar. This series is on hold since January 2025 due to work on other projects.
About the writer
I am not a law enforcement officer, not an investigative journalist, not part of the Vidocq Society, and not a private investigator.
I do not actively investigate cases. I leave that to the professionals. It is crucial that you understand that.
I am a writer. I raise awareness for old unsolved cases that need more media attention. That is all I do here.
Reader interaction
I would like to encourage you to share your thoughts about old unsolved cases on your own social media platforms. This way you too enhance the victim’s digital footprint.
By sharing and liking these posts, they reach new networks, new connections, and new news feeds. Maybe one day the updates will pop up in the right person’s news feed. Someone who can help advance the case, and that is my goal.
Gratitude
Thank you to everyone who emails me with information, photographs, details to add to posts, pictures of old newspapers, corrections, and more.
The photograph on the right was taken by Simon Folkard. He is a photographer located in Colchester, England. Of course, nothing would have been possible without the support and friendship of Jacques Soudan. Thank you for building this website and for maintaining it since 2009.
I appreciate you all. You keep me going!
Thank you,
Alice de Sturler