Credit: Solve the Case
September 1, 2024 marked the start of the inaugural National Cold Case Month in the forensic community, with some well-known organizations joining the call to action.
The movement was launched this year by Solve the Case, a non-profit dedicated to finding missing persons and solving cases of murder and other serial offenses. The non-profit is headed by Dallas-Fort Worth police detective Aaron Benzick who has over 20 years of experience investigating hundreds of violent crimes. During the course of his professional career, Benzick has focused on mapping, testifying as an expert witness in location data mapping on cellular devices. He has also developed software used by city, state and federal law enforcement agencies for mapping location data.
Leveraging this experience, Solve the Case’s goal is to assist agencies in understanding and using technology in their investigations, as well as expanding awareness of unsolved cases.
“We provide free tools and services to collaboratively help unsolved cases of murder, missing persons and serial offenses,” reads the non-profit’s website. “We use the power of the internet to bring the community together to look at cases in new and innovative ways with investigative professionals.”
National Cold Case Month has already found many participants, including: The Genetic Justice Project, Medina County Sheriff's Office (Texas), GEDmatch, Season of Justice, Ramapo College's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, Othram, Calavaras County Sheriff's Office (California) and more.
A collaborative database
For law enforcement agencies, National Cold Case Month and Solve the Case is more than a call to action. In fact, Solve the Case’s technology acts as a database. Participating police departments can audit and organize their cold case files, as well as conduct a review of evidence for each case. The technology also allows police departments to interface with NamUS, NCIC, and ViCAP to ensure all case information is updated and stored correctly. Additionally, unsolved cases can be publicly listed on Solve the Case to increase awareness and hopefully generate tips.
A quick browse shows unsolved cases from all around the United States. For example, the Calavaras County Sheriff's Office has featured the missing persons case of Jeffrey Askren, who may (or may not) be a victim of the Wilseyville serial killings.
Askren was reported missing on May 1, 1984 when he did not arrive at his workplace in Santa Clara. Three days later, his 1978 red Honda Accord was found parked on Winton Road, within six miles of the site of the Wilseyville serial killings. Snow was present in the area when the vehicle was discovered; however, no footprints were located in the area. Askren was known to carry camera equipment, and a lens cover for a camera was found on the ground near his vehicle. Investigators also recovered a camera tripod from his vehicle. No additional camera equipment or evidence of Askren was located despite a large search of the area. While Askren’s disappearance occurred within the time of a range of the Wilseyville killings, his remains have not yet been identified as being part of those recovered at the Wilseyville site. No further information regarding the disappearance has developed over the past 40 years.
Meanwhile, the Oneida County Sheriff's Office (Wisconsin) and Ramapo College's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center have profiled and are actively working on the case of Harshaw John Doe. The remains of Harshaw John Doe were found on Oct. 4, 2000 in Harshaw, Wisconsin. He was estimated to be 45 to 60 years of age at the time of his death. He was found with numerous belongings, including a stuffed rabbit, sleeping bag, and a monogrammed ring with the possible initials "HFM" on a hemp necklace. A possible portion of a Pennsylvania driver’s license or ID card was also found with the body, as well as a large hunting-type knife and multiple pain pills. Advanced DNA testing suggests Harshaw John Doe is likely of Eastern European descent.
Those left behind
Solve the Case also offers resources for victim’s families, urging them to make contact with the lead investigator on the case and offering more information about updated evidence testing that could help. The non-profit also suggests providing a DNA sample to a secure database like GEDmatch or Othram’s DNASolves to help law enforcement find suspects and match missing persons to unidentified decedents.
Ultimately, Solve the Case seeks to be an informational hub that acts as a central place for the latest information on the many, many cold cases found throughout the nation. By creating a database and platform, Solve the Case hopes to bring together everyone and anyone—family members, friends, community sleuths, law enforcement and more—in the interest of answers and justice.