Probing Into Cold Cases: A Guide for Investigators

• NCJ Number: 229612
• Author(s): Ronald L. Mendell, M.S., CISSP, CLI
• Date Published: 2010
• Length: 322 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Book (Hardbound)
• Publication Type: Overview Text
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This book offers investigators a new approach in examining cold cases and suggests new ways of seeing and looking for evidence; the techniques suggested offer a systematic reexamination of the available evidence.

Abstract

Cold cases raise serious challenges for both civil and criminal investigators. The common understanding of what constitutes a cold case usually is a reopened homicide investigation. The main challenge to the cold case investigator is not a lack of insight, but the passage of time may require the investigator to probe more layers of information than those faced by the original case investigator. This book begins with a discussion explaining the nature of cold cases and the major problems associated with these investigations. A cold case investigation progresses from the internal (the case's center), proximal (contact evidence), distal (immediate vicinity) to the limbic (the world at large) realms of information. The importance of gathering basic identifiers about the victim, suspect, product, or object that constitutes the 'center' of the case is stressed. Fifteen keys exist that act as collection points for evidence. These keys are discussed, including the role they play in the evolution of an investigation. The book features the following topics: identifying the differences between physical evidence, traceable evidence, and information resources; the differences between the goals in criminal cases and in civil investigations; working with the medical examiner; the importance of visiting the locus or crime scene even after a considerable period of time has elapsed; the basics of computer forensics and tips on cyber-profiling; technical assistance and how to locate expert help; tools for uncovering witnesses; locating hidden information archives relevant to a particular case; financial evidence; managing a case; and response when using a combination of traditional and forensic techniques, constituting a modern synthesis of investigative methods. This book offers cold case investigators a new approach to examine what happened in the past. Tables, figures, appendix, glossary, bibliography, and index