Resources for families: how to work your own case

Cold Case Coalition

A wide range of free or nonprofit services offered to law enforcement, families, and investigators nationwide by the Cold Case Coalition.

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Law enforcement

Remember, law enforcement has the most information about your case, and would like to see it solved. Here are some tips about interacting with law enforcement on a cold case.

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DNA help

In many cold cases, DNA testing was never done, or was performed with less advanced methods. The most advanced techniques are only available at private labs like ours and others.

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Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG)

With FIGG, genealogical DNA profiles are generated and then compared to authorized public genealogy databases to help identify potential suspects. Click to learn more about our labs and others than can help.

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Locating unmarked graves

Have you received a tip where an unmarked grave might be? Do you suspect someone is buried in a back yard? (Unfortunately, it does happen.) You might need ground-penetrating radar. How can you get it?

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Cold case media help

The media can attract new leads, keep a case in the light, encourage law enforcement to work the case, inspire viewers to fund a reward, etc. Here's how to get the media interested, and what to do if they are.

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Cold case organizations, sites, podcasts

Cold case organizations, websites, and podcasts are popping up everywhere. Many rely on media accounts and don't personally investigate cases (but still may bring badly needed attention to cases). Other podcasts (like ours, Cold Case Talk) actively investigate cases. Here are some that might be helpful if you're working a cold case (we'll continue adding to this list).

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Records

If you just rely on news accounts of a case, you're not getting a full (or even accurate) story. Here are some suggestions for obtaining records and researching cold cases using government agencies, courts, libraries, archives, retired law enforcement, attorneys, and other sources.

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Locating, interviewing witnesses

We do not recommend that untrained / unsupervised individuals interview witnesses. Among other things, it is important not to taint any future prosecution. But that doesn't mean you can't try to find them.

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