In my cold case database you can find all the cases that are discussed on my website. The original database became too large so I have split it up in three: A-G, H-N, O-Z.
Aside from that, there are now two sets of the database. The Index gives you a quick overview while the summary expands on the case. If you wish to read more, you click on the link that will take you to all the posts written about that particular case. Just hover over the cold case database tab in the menu bar and you will see a drop down menu with the index and summaries all split up in three parts.
All the victims and wrongfully convicted people are listed by their last name. The reason why you find the wrongfully convicted in my database is simple: when the exonerated is taken out of the equation we are left with a cold case.
Unless we have
- previously disregarded evidence (because we thought we already had our conviction) or,
- properly preserved old evidence that may contain biological material that can now be tested with modern technology or,
- a confession from someone new or another person’s DNA match in CODIS (as a result of testing with modern technology), we have a cold case.
Many wrongful convictions are based on false confessions. People often wonder if you really can get someone to confess to a crime that they did not commit. Under the right circumstances, yes.
There are three psychologically different types of false confessions.
- Voluntary False Confessions: someone confesses falsely without any pressure from police
- Coerced-Compliant False Confessions: someone confesses falsely due to coercive pressure during interrogations. The retraction of that false confessions starts immediately after the pressure is over.
- Coerced-Internalized False Confessions: during police interrogations someone starts to believe that they did commit the crime even though they have no memory of the crime itself. The retraction of that false confession only comes after someone is internally convinced again that they are innocent. That is a process that can take years.
Cold Case Database
The database is updated with every new post on my website. However, not every case is updated in a new post but I do always update the database so always check there first.
Every month, I feature a “Case of the Month.” This can be a post about an unsolved homicide, a missing person, an unidentified person, a wrongful conviction, or forensics. You can find the link in the menu bar.
If you have any updates in any of these cases please contact me. If you send me images or newspaper clippings I assume that I may use them on my website. If that was not your intention, please say so in your email. I respect your decision.
Thank you very much for using my website as a resource for information. It is free to the public. The only thing that I ask is that if you use my work, refer to it with a link back. I do the same for you.
Alice de Sturler