Cold Case Investigations


THE COLD CASE UNIT was established in the Office of the Chief State's Attorney in May of 1998 to focus special investigative efforts on crimes that have gone "cold," that is, unsolved for a prolonged period of time. Since the inception of the original unit, cold case investigations have resulted in arrests and convictions in approximately four dozen previously unsolved homicides. Additionally, Cold Case investigators have been involved in investigations that resulted in the Federal court convictions of several homicide cases.

Cold Case Units bring together experienced prosecutors and investigators from the Division of Criminal Justice (Office of the Chief State's Attorney and State's Attorneys) to work closely with the Connecticut State Police and municipal police departments. These investigators start from scratch, reviewing all evidence and taking a fresh look at the crime. This work relies upon the latest investigative techniques and the newest technology, including highly sophisticated DNA analysis. Many of these techniques were not available when the crimes occurred and the original investigations were undertaken.

The Cold Case Unit in the Office of the Chief State's Attorney currently includes Inspectors from the Division of Criminal Justice and Hartford Police detectives. At various times, the unit has also included investigators from the State of Connecticut Department of Correction, the Greenwich Police Department, Norwalk Police Department, East Hampton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The various State's Attorneys also facilitate cold case task forces working in collaboration with police departments in the Judicial District.

The Cold Case approach is not unique to Connecticut. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and many other state and local jurisdictions also have Cold Case Units or Squads.

The email address for the Cold Case Unit is cold.case@ct.gov  

Follow this link to
e-mail the Cold Case Unit


(Statewide)
Toll-Free Tip Line
1-866-623-8058  
Hartford Area Tip Line 860-548-0606

Statewide by U.S. Mail: Cold Case Unit P.O. Box 962 Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Cold Case Playing Cards

The Division of Criminal Justice in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Correction and law enforcement agencies statewide have created a Cold Case playing card deck highlighting 52 unsolved homicides, missing persons, and unidentified remains cases that have occurred throughout the state. These cards are being distributed in an effort to generate information and leads in solving these cold cases. Every tip has the potential to bring law enforcement one step closer to obtaining justice for victims and a sense of closure for their surviving family members. All tips remain anonymous.

To view the Cold Case Playing Cards, click the below links to access the various decks:

Fifth Edition

Fourth Edition

Third Edition

Second Edition

First Edition

 

Connecticut DCJ Cold Case Unit Facebook Page

The Division of Criminal Justice established the Connecticut DCJ Cold Case Unit Facebook Page in an effort to generate new leads in cases that have gone "cold" or unsolved for a prolonged period of time by reaching out to a wider audience using social media. Posts on the Connecticut DCJ Cold Case Unit Facebook page include cases already featured in the Connecticut Cold Case playing cards. The Connecticut DCJ Cold Case Unit Facebook page also will include posts about updates on the hundreds of cold cases in Connecticut and will highlight media coverage of the unsolved cases. Featured on the Connecticut DCJ Cold Case Unit’s Facebook page is a personalized challenge coin that shows the Division’s seal and picture of a lion with the words, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Surrounding the lion, the coin reads: “Cold Case Unit. We Never Forget.”