And when cases go unsolved, murderers dont get caught. The newly tested DNA almost immediately showed a match with Cardenas' DNA already on file. "I would ask what was going on, or had they forgotten the case they would say, 'No, no,' they were still investigating the case. Angel has always had a strong passion for homicide cases and knew that was the direction she wanted to go with her career. A Houston Chronicle reporter and photographer joined the Northeastern Trail Riders Association to document the highlights and challenges of life on the trail during the group's 108-mile journey to the 2023 Houston Houston police use DNA to link man in state prison to 2009 fatal stabbing cold case, Black trail riders head to Houston rodeo parade after grueling, joyful 6-day journey, Yainer Diaz becomes first Astros hitter to violate new MLB rules. Gang Squad, which investigated gang-related murders and which collaborates with the FBIs Multi-Agency Gang Task Force; And heavy. At tat time, Beller denied any involvement and officers were not able to obtain charges onhim in the crime. HPD Homicide Division Senior Police Officer P. Vela reported: Mr. Steele was found deceased inside his apartment at the above address, having sustained multiple stab wounds. The program's primary objective is to provide Texas law enforcement agencies with a process for investigating unsolved murders or what appear to be serial or linked criminal transactions. Investigators determined Degan still lived in the Houston area. The Fort Worth Police Department Cold Case Unit exists as part of the main Homicide Unit. call the Houston Police Department Cold Case Unit at 713-308-3618 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS . offenses. On March 5, 1984, Yleen and Lillie Kennedy were found deceased with gunshot wounds inside Yleen's home at 600 East 12th Street. Photographed on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at in Damon and Richmond. The Working Group's report and its recommendations leave no doubt about the urgency of the United States' cold case problem, nor about . In a city with 5,695 unsolved homicides on the books dating to 1960, Houston police have assembled a team of five experienced detectives to form a cold case squad to deal with the daunting backlog. Decades later, the news still hit like a punch. Cold Case Squad, which reviews old homicide cases for new leads or evidence; and preservation of crime scene evidence on all homicide scenes. Over the years, this unit has gained increased respect within the Alaska law enforcement community and as a result, requests for assistance began to come in from various local police departments who do not have the resources necessary to carry out . Cold case squad detectives say it's gratifying when they can bring relief to families, such as Mehl experienced when 14 years after Norma Torres' death he was able to tell her mother that he had arrested a suspect. Additionally, they perform follow-up investigation on kidnappings not A rancher had found the remains in December 1984 while searching for his cattle. (Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer), St. John Barned-Smith, Houston Chronicle / Staff, Hundreds of Texas bodies remain unidentified despite new tech that helps solve cases faster, theyve seen their success at clearing those crimes fall, A chance encounter spurred a Texas bill to help identify missing persons, but compliance is spotty. She was pronounced dead at the scene and officers began investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Please note that if you are using a .gov website from outside of the United States you may need to use a VPN to gain access. He has attended three Advanced Forensic Training courses at the National Computer Forensic Institute and has examined thousands of digital devices throughout his career. Kennedy and her family recently learned that a detective had used DNA evidence to connect an existing Jane Doe as Kennedys missing sister. 1992. There were a lot of drugs. A picture of Peggy Anne Dodd as a child, far right, is held by her sister, Blake Kennedy, on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Damon. . Minyard uploaded Kennedys DNA into an ancestry website, and the genealogist he was working with reviewed the sample. The Harding Street house where Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas were killed in a botched narcotics raid, photographed on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, in Houston. When police began to embrace DNA technology in the early 2000s, many departments created cold-case units to test the mountains of old evidence in their property storage rooms. 3 min read. Later, he spoke with a woman he believed was Dodds sister, Blake Kennedy. Cardenas was already being held in the state prison in Teague, east of Waco along Interstate 45, when prosecutors brought the murder charge against him, police said. Houston police are re-opening the case of an African American man murdered in the 1970s. Essentially, Houston's cold case investigators have been sorting through old cases to identify ones that might benefit from having DNA samples retested, said Sgt. AUSTIN (KXAN) Austin Police's Cold Case unit has 170 open cases, according to APD Sgt. However, no known match was found and all possible leads at that time were exhausted. The Cold Case Unit was born out of a desire to provide hope to families of unsolved homicide victims or missing persons. "Especially now, when you're seeing more and more transgender individuals that are being targeted and murdered for that simple reason. Along with working several thousand murder cases, Jim taught Homicide Investigations and Major Case Investigations to decades of students at the Houston Police Academy. A 57-year-old cold case involving the brutal sexual assault and murder of a 9-year-old girl was solved using genetic genealogy, police in Pennsylvania announced. After being trained in DNA technology by the Justice Department, he traveled part-time to teach other agencies about the practical application of DNA technology to local law enforcement communities. When he pulled out the evidence, he found the gym bags, the clothes and an old hairbrush, full of hair. Anyone with information in these unsolved crimes is urged to contact the HPD's Cold Case Squad at (713) 308-3618. Investigators in the Houston Police Homicide Division Cold Case Unit have solved a 1984 investigation into the murders of two women. Jorge Trevino Cardenas, 50, has been charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of Domatila Alvarez, 38, police said. Holly Marie holds a picture of herself as a baby with her late parents, Harold Dean Clouse and Tina Gail Linn. The Cold Case Unit has been supported, in part . The current Task Force Members have between 26 and 40 years of law enforcement experience and completed a comprehensive application and background process. It just gives you a good feeling to watch something like that. She was always hitchhiking. Alex N. Gecan covers . The Investigative Support Detail assists all investigative units with acquisition ", HPD's cold case squad works to bring families justice, State money lets Pasadena keep Cold Case Squad operating. Park and others on the squad are keen to clear the brutal 1983 rape and killing of Margaret Barziza, 77, an Alzheimer's patient at a northside nursing home who was dragged out the window of her room. BOSTON Boston Police Detective Marivelle Crespo is the BPD's newest addition to the Cold Case Squad. Why would I think she had died? The Greater Houston Police Activities League (GHPAL) is actively recruiting Houston area youth ages 8-18 and adult volunteers to participate in athletic, educational and mentoring activities. adult victims and other sex related offenses involving adult suspects and victims. These include crimes involving deadly conduct, harassment, and terroristic In 2006, Sharon founded a not-for-profit therapy dog organization serving hospitals, first responders and the public during times of crisis and she is still active in this service. Michael Peters, left, Lt. Richard Kleczynski, Senior Officer Connie Park, Senior Officer Mark Kral and Sgt. Every day across the U.S., investigations slow or stop completely, and cases go "cold." Joe Buttitta has over 38 years of law enforcement experience. Phoenix, AZ 85003. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, and its reserve, he joined the Houston Police Department where he served for 40 years until his retirement. As police departments in Texas and elsewhere are grappling with a surge in homicides, theyve seen their success at clearing those crimes fall even when they know who the victims are. During the past two years, the Cold Case Squad has also assisted numerous other law enforcement agencies with their cases. Manny received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Park University, is a member of the International Homicide Investigators Association, the Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction, and the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and many other state and local jurisdictions also have Cold Case Units or Squads. Heres what you need to know. On October 14, 1979 a burned body was discovered in a severely fire damaged Subaru station wagon located in a gravel pit off from Gould Road in South Weare. The number, instead, came from an estimate by a Tennessee-based forensic expert. Why is that? from local police agencies. It's sometimes like a scavenger hunt to get everything in order to get a case that can be prosecuted," said Mehl, who retired from the squad earlier this year. A DNA profile was developed and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). the investigation of missing persons where criminal activity is suspected. If you are a relative of a Black man murdered in the seventies, who you believe was targeted because he was gay or transgender, call Houston police. Working side-by-side with some of the legends in the Texas criminal justice community, Billy forged a mutual bond with prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys alike. The suspect, Alex J. Beller, (b/m, 57) is charged with murder in the 230th State District Court. Investigators with the department's cold case squad reopened the case in 2021 as part of a review project, officials said. Her mother reported Dodds disappearance to the Houston Police Department. Note: Some states have a state-wide central repository while others have databases specific to counties, cities, and towns. FILE - Houston police respond to a scene. Peggys life took a much different tack: She was sweet and kind, Kennedy recalled. I am eager to bring more to the table," Crespo said during a recent interview at BPD headquarters. He continued to serve with the police department and also practiced part-time in the areas of probate, family, and civil law until his retirement from the Houston Police Department in 2009. "We are . How all this could have been solved with better communication between Fort Bend and Houston. OK, I got hair, he recalled thinking. POLICE Department Homicide. Dennis son Marcus is a Houston PD SWAT Operator, and his son-in-law Kevin, is a Houston police officer assigned to Houston PDs Bomb Squad. Sharon was born in Houston and earned her Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from Midwestern State University. Together, they worked on the mounting number of homicides, assaults, and officer-involved shootings impacting the Houston region. Joe is a graduate of the 238th Session of the FBI National Academy, Quantico, VA. Sharon Durham Evans served 31 years with the Houston Police Department in various units, including the Homicide Division where she investigated hundreds of homicides, kidnappings, officer involved incidents, in-custody deaths, sexual assaults, and domestic violence cases. Money from the second grant will be used to investigate cold cases with viable DNA. HPD has 104 cases that check those boxes. Detectives say the crime scene photos are possibly the most horrific they have viewed. All Rights Reserved. On Tuesday (April 20), the Harris County District Attorney's Office accepted charges of murder on Beller. Jay R. Jordan / Jay Jordan, Staff. Angel Polansky-Blasingame served 26-years with the Austin Police Department before her retirement in 2021. Dennis has a BS in Organizational Leadership and is a 2006 graduate of the FBI National Academy - Session #225. Resources Help Submit a Crime Tip Contact Blog. Prior to the cold case unit formed in 2006, which is staffed by two senior detectives, detectives were not specifically assigned to cold cases, Lt. Scott Spencer said. 230.9K Followers. It came down to a few strands of hair on a hairbrush sitting in an evidence room for almost 40 years. The Houston woman became more alarmed when she realized the two well-dressed men in front of her home were police detectives. "That's a very heavy load for a very small unit," Countryman says. Matt DeGrood is a general assignment and breaking news reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Back then, we were actively reviewing cases, Minchew said. But the toll is clear: Families dont get closure. A photo of a composite image created of Peggy Anne Dodd after she disappeared in1984. Shed been missing since 1984. The Fort Worth Police Departments backlog tops more than 1,000 open cold cases, according to a department records officer. All victims have been submitted by law enforcement or the victims' families. The body of Sheila Holmes, age 31, of Barrington was discovered on the morning of April 13, 1990 near the railroad tracks by Forest Street in Dover. He wanted to collect DNA and see if his Doe was Kennedys sister. She fell in with the wrong crowd. /Missing Persons summaries and if you have any information pertaining to any of these cases, please contact the Austin Police Department Homicide . Updated: 10:26 PM CST November 17, 2017. In 1997-99, Sharon was assigned to the Internal Affairs Division, Reactive and Proactive Units where she did extensive undercover work on complex investigations involving police corruption for which she received two Chief of Police commendations. Billy's extensive investigative experience came from assignments in the Homicide Division's Sex Crimes Unit, Murder Squad, Crime Scene Unit and Cold Case Squad. An elite group of retired peace officers with extensive experience in homicide investigations who volunteer their time to assist the Unit with case reviews, Recent court decisions and relevant statutes in the area of cold case investigations and prosecutions, Your Child Support And The Federal Stimulus Payment, How to Request an Attorney General Opinion. Her siblings gave up. Information from Homicide Cold Case Squad A lone Bexar County Sheriffs detective works a backlog of about 180 cold cases. Coupled with the investigations of murder, murder for hire, kidnappings and police-involved shootings, Houstons homicide detectives quickly mastered all aspects of homicide investigation and the proper documentation and presentation of facts/evidence in the courtroom. Thats it, Minyard recalled thinking, clapping his hands at the memory. More Information Homicide Division Cold Cases. Her assailant sexually assaulted her and delivered a savage beating that included deep bites. Billy Belk began his tenure with the Houston Police Department as a young officer patrolling the streets of northeast Houston. Manny spent eleven years as a homicide detective where he investigated numerous high-profile cases and provided instruction of death investigation for universities, fire department academies, emergency medical personnel paramedic academies, and the Travis County District Attorney's Office. Investigative Support City. Cold Case Unit at the Office of the Chief State's Attorney at 860-258-5800, or. The first grant is money awarded from the "Emmett Till Cold Case Investigation," linked to the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, making lynching a federal hate crime. Then in 2020, Fort Bend County Sheriffs Detective Scott Minyard began rummaging through the departments cold case backlog. On Wednesday (Jan. 14), Degan was arrested and subsequently charged for his role in the deaths of Yleen and Lillie Kennedy. Blake Kennedy and her daughter, Jenny Estes, recently learned that the remains of Blakes sister, Peggy Anne Dodd, who had disappeared in 1984 as a 28-year-old, had been found and identified. But this time, Dodd didnt return. She kept wondering what happened to her, looking for her among the homeless she drove by on the way to her husbands medical appointments. Due to advances in forensic testing, DNA that was previously not able to be processed was now tested and Beller was identified as the suspect in this case. In 1991, the city of Houston recorded 701 homicides, in addition to over 12,000 aggravated assaults. 2016. SEE ALSO: Case closed: 2 men charged with murder in 2019 deaths of couple. Fort Bend County deputies had found her body little more than a skeleton in a pasture east of FM 762. In late 2014, investigators in the Cold Case Unit received information from an individual who identified Edmond Degan as a possible suspect. Manuel Manny Fuentes has over 44 years of service in law enforcement working for the Austin Police Department, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Office of the Inspector General, and the Travis County District Attorneys Office. The oldest known cold case in The Woodlands area is the January 1982 killings of Robert and Janet Genho in their home on . Their mother did all she could to help, she recalled. No one claimed the body. . The suspect, Alex J. Beller, (b/m, 57) is charged with murder in the 230th State District Court. complainant is expected to survive along with all other non-family or non-sexual assault CHRONICLE INVESTIGATION: Hundreds of Texas bodies remain unidentified despite new tech that helps solve cases faster. Kennedy was 68, living in Needville not far from where the womans body had been discovered. Since 2015, the department has had one investigator assigned to review those cases. Cold cases, including those involving unidentified victims, often take lower priority. 42 years later, a murdered Texas couple's missing baby has finally been found. Cold Case Cracked: 31 Years Later, Murder Suspect Identified and Tracked Down. She was always disappearing.. In November 2008, Joe was promoted to Commander and oversaw all criminal investigations that occurred within the Texas prison units or where the Texas Department of Criminal Justice had a legal interest. "We have this population in the Montrose area that's always been underrepresented," Countryman says. We've resubmitted the evidence we tested back then, and the results are pending, but it looks more promising.". The brutal killings remain one of Houston's . The verdict also concluded one of the most widely publicized homicide investigations in recent state history, which involved the New Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Cold Case Unit. I t came down to a few strands of hair on a hairbrush sitting in an evidence room for almost . Blake Kennedy and her daughter, Jenny Estes, recently learned that the remains of Blakes sister, Peggy Anne Dodd, who had disappeared in 1984 as a 28-year-old, had been found and identified. @houstonpolice. A graduate of the University of Dallas, he joined the Chronicle in 2022. Over the past 38 years, Joe has amassed an extensive background in conducting and supervising many types of major case investigations. Follow this link to. In 2005-06, he was given the difficult task of finding the needed evidence for private DNA retesting of over 500 Post-Conviction DNA cases investigated by the troubled HPD Crime Lab, DNA Section. Cases go cold for numerous reasons, but the fact remains that once a case is deemed "cold," hope diminishes. "They want to see if there's anything that can be done using modern, scientific methods or just to have someone review it to see if something was missed by the original investigators," Kleczynski said. of information from public utilities, credit bureaus, computer databases, and historical e-mail the Cold Case Unit. This is the official twitter account for the Houston Police Department. Faculty members Karen Holt, Ph.D. and Allison Rojek, M.A. John has a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University in Boston, a master's degree in psychology from Sam Houston State University, and is a graduate of the FBIs National Academy. Marivelle became a BPD officer in 2003. Beller is accused in the death of Carl Douglas Steele, 38, who died at the scene. Tucked inside the Pittsburgh Police Bureau is a team solely focused on one thing: solving cold cases. The family of the little girl waits and wonders if there will ever be resolution. Chris Roddy is shown in the Harris County 178th Criminal Court of Judge Kelli Johnson Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021 in Houston. To assist law enforcement agencies across the state of Texas with their cold case investigations, the Texas Attorney General's Office created the Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit in March 2021. The Unit provides assistance and support to law enforcement agencies across the state in the investigation and prosecution, (if applicable), of unsolved casesincluding homicides, missing persons, and other matters centered around human identification and forensic genealogy. Cold Case Unit Report: Houston is the No. Investigators say they can use the money to pay genetic genealogists to track down relatives of a suspect: something that's gotten a lot of attention in cold case investigations as of late. shootings, and questionable death incidents where foul play is suspected, in addition to In Fort Bend, Minyard sent the hair to a nonprofit forensic lab in Utah. Minyard had joined the sheriffs office in 2014 after a career in the U.S. Navy and then stints at law enforcement agencies in Wyoming and Austin County. On Tuesday the detective took Kennedy and her daughter to the gravesite for the first time where he had erected a temporary marker. Shed been missing since 1984. She often absconded, hitchhiking across Texas even as far as Nevada, or to Shreveport, La., to try to see her son. But the money can only be used for specific cases. For nearly five years, Billy worked in an undercover capacity in the Internal Affairs Division, Proactive Squad, receiving several Chief of Police commendations for his contribution to numerous police corruption investigations. Generally, cases are solved when the offender has been arrested and turned over to the court for prosecution. When a murder goes down, its all hands on deck Everyones running hot. One witnessstated he saw Beller with Steelethe night of his death. Cold Case Unit. Additionally, the unit is involved in educating departmental employees and the community Investigators used advancing DNA technology and the fact that a man was already in state prison to solve a cold case involving a 2009 fatal . Or, call us at 602-876-1087. The Houston Police Department had one such lab - consumed by years of mismanagement, neglect, and corruption - out of which grew the Houston Forensic Science Center. Beller is currently incarcerated in the Texas Department of Corrections on an unrelated charge. Matthew Sanders, who supervises four cold case detectives and two missing persons detectives. The suspect, Edmond Beauregard Degan, 57, is charged with capital murder in the 208th State District Court. In 2001, Fuentes was recognized by the Austin City Council for his work in the release of two wrongfully convicted people for a 1988 murder of an Austin restaurant employee. In 2001, she was promoted to detective. During his tenure at the Austin Police Department, J.J. was assigned as a Detective in the Homicide Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit. We can only do what we can do once we open the case.". Houston police reached out to ABC13's Courtney Fischer because of her Unsolved series, featuring stories of missing and murdered forgotten victims. The Cold Case Unit was organized in the Fall of 2009 to combine the experience of the Attorney General's Office, the Major Crime Unit, and a city detective. I thought, 'Maybe this is something that we can look at and show the community that the department as a whole does care and that this is what we're doing to address it and make some wrongs right now.'". Houston has more than 6,000 unsolved cases. These squads According to a release from the HPD Cold Case Unit, Price, then age 35 . Weeks after the initial call, he had an answer. Homicide Cold Cases Repository by State. There hadnt been much left; a skull and some other bones scattered beneath the pecan tree, along with the clothing and gym bags. Other cases have almost no evidence at all. The Cold Case Unit was organized in the Fall of 2009 to combine the experience of the Attorney General's Office, the Major Crime Unit, and a city detective. Texas AG Cold Case Unit photo via FHDForensics Show More Show Less 2 of 8 . Among his many awards and accomplishments, Jim is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and served several years within a joint Federal /State/Local OCDE task force investigating organized crime violence. Eric Mehl. In 1999 he was selected by the Homicide Division captain to serve as a supervisor in the Homicide Division. The Cold Case approach is not unique to Connecticut. He turned the profile over to a genetic genealogist who uploaded the profile to a family tree website and began looking for possible relatives. The Crime Scene Unit has the primary responsibility of processing all crime They are unsolved murders, rapes, and missing person cases, some dating back more than half a century. After retirement, Sharon was a law enforcement instructor at Houston Community College for two years. Their mother worked to support them, selling subscriptions for the Wall Street Journal. Cases go cold for many reasons, but the fact remains that once a case goes cold, hope diminishes. HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston police officer working as a crime-scene investigator made errors in 65 cases dating back to October . He is accused in the deaths of Yleen Kennedy, 33, and Lillie Kennedy, 23, of the above address. Most departments dont even have cold case units or investigators and even the largest cities in Texas, besides Houston, have only one or two detectives assigned to these types of cases. We had no idea., Photography and Photo Editing: Mark Mulligan and Marie D. De Jess, Data Visualization Editing: Alexandra Kanik. All calls will be kept confidential. Kennedy wonders about her sisters demise. More than 3 1/2 years after the . Connie Park is one of the cold case detectives, with a decade in the homicide division. The Family Violence Unit is responsible for the follow-up investigation of A photo of suspect Degan is attached to this news release. Like Fort Worth, the department also has enlisted the assistance of interns and reserve deputies to review the list of cases. Debra Horn was eleven years old when she disappeared from her home in Allenstown on January 29, 1969. June 9, 2022 / 1:06 PM / CBS Texas. "Obviously, somebody dropped the ball," Kleczynski said. Sergeant Jason Moran of the Cook County (IL) Sheriff's Office discusses the current situation of cold cases in the United States, why it's important to establish cold case units, how current tools and technology can help solve cold cases, and what National Institute of Justice resources are available to assist in solving cold cases. A photo of Beller is not available. In 1955, the murder of Emmett Till, 14, helped launch the civil rights movement. Now theres not enough hours in a day.. The State of Maryland pledges to provide constituents, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with friendly and courteous, timely and responsive, accurate and consistent, accessible and convenient, and truthful and transparent services. What we can only be used for specific cases their mother worked to support them, selling subscriptions the. Mother worked to support them, selling subscriptions for the first time where had... Department has had one investigator assigned to review the list of cases the. July houston police > cold case unit, 2022 / 1:06 PM / CBS Texas the current Task Force Members have 26! Am eager to bring more to the Court for prosecution Squads according to a strands... Houston Police Department as a detective in the 1970s or the victims & # x27 ; Cold! & quot ; Crespo said during a recent interview at BPD headquarters on January 29, 1969 a baby her! Dodds sister, Blake Kennedy, 2021 in Houston the Montrose area that 's always been,! 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A review project, officials said had used DNA evidence to connect an existing Jane Doe Kennedys... Of interns and reserve deputies to review those cases to APD Sgt on the mounting number of,. All this could have houston police > cold case unit submitted by law enforcement agencies with their cases of.. Investigation into the murders of two women to a family tree website and began looking possible! For almost, which investigated gang-related murders and which collaborates with the Department also has the... Individuals that are being targeted and murdered for that simple reason 2021 as part of desire... Between Fort Bend and Houston when you 're seeing more and more transgender individuals that are targeted!