FY23 PROSECUTING COLORADO COLD CASES USING DNA

Project Abstract

    In Colorado, we define a rural area as one where communities exist outside of urban areas and urban clusters.  These communities have lower populations and limited law enforcement resources within local police departments, sheriff offices, and district attorney offices with 50 or less sworn personnel within their agency. 
    Agencies with 50 or less sworn personnel have a larger area of responsibility and are assigned multiple tasks for their agency.  For example, a Sergeant working in rural Colorado might be assigned to patrol, field training, firearms instructor, arrest control instructor, Public Information Officer, crime scene response, victim advocate etc.  Limited staffing resources and remote locations make it difficult for deputies and investigators to attend additional training, let alone travel out of state.      Agencies in rural Colorado greatly benefit from additional resources by way of investigators, scientists, and prosecutors to assist them in working cold cases.  The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is prepared to provide assistance to these jurisdictions.  In July 2022, the Colorado Governor approved a budget item that created a multi-disciplinary cold case team at the CBI.  The team consists of a supervisory Agent in Charge, 4 field agents, 2 analysts, 1 forensic genetic genealogist, 2 DNA scientists and 1 fingerprint examiner.  We have compiled a list of unresolved cases in these jurisdictions. We have reviewed the number of unresolved cases meeting the criteria for rural agencies and of the more than 1,354 unresolved homicide cases statewide, we have identified 69 cases in rural Colorado.  DNA profiles are currently searching in CODIS in 40 of those cases.  We will first contact the investigating agency and the district attorney’s office in each rural jurisdiction to advise them of this opportunity and encourage their participation.  We will provide a list of cases within their jurisdiction and request they review the list for accuracy.  CBI Investigations will meet with members of the investigating agency, CBI Forensic Services, and the district attorney’s office to review the remaining items of evidence to determine if additional forensic testing can be done to include investigative genetic genealogy (IGG).   With these grant funds, we can offer overtime and travel assistance to the investigating agency and/or district attorney’s office directly, or provide the needed assistance. 

    Cold cases are a passion for the Bureau.  We owe this to the victims whose lives have been lost and their family members who continue to suffer every day.