It’s a sad reality that many cases go unsolved year after year. The National Institute of Justice reports that only about 60% of all homicides are ever solved. So, what can you do to increase the chances your cold case will be solved? Below are some reasons cases go unsolved and what you can do if you have such a situation.

Lack of Adequate Resources

One of the primary reasons cold cases go unsolved is a lack of resources. It can include a lack of funds to pay for DNA testing or hire more investigators. It can also include a lack of workforce, as detectives may be pulled away to work on more active cases. We can solve this problem by providing more resources to law enforcement agencies. This can be done through things like donations or grants. Another way to help is by raising awareness about the importance of solving cold cases. It can help increase public pressure on elected officials to allocate more resources to these investigations.

Lack of Cooperation from Witnesses

Another common reason cold cases go unsolved is a lack of cooperation from witnesses. This can be due to various factors, including fear of retaliation or not wanting to get involved. There are a few things you can do to help encourage witnesses to come forward. One is to offer a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Another is to provide anonymity through a tip line or by working with law enforcement to ensure witnesses’ safety.

Lack of Physical Evidence

A third reason cold cases often go unsolved is a lack of physical evidence. It can be due to time or simply because the crime scene was not properly preserved. One way to help solve this problem is by providing funding for advanced DNA testing. This can help identify suspects even when no physical evidence is left at the scene. Another way to help is by working with law enforcement to preserve crime scenes properly.

Lack of Motivation

Finally, a lack of motivation can lead to cold cases going unsolved. This may be due to a lack of public interest or pressure from elected officials. One way to help solve this problem is by raising awareness about cold cases. It can help generate public interest and pressure elected officials to allocate more resources to these investigations. Another way to help is by working with law enforcement to ensure they have the necessary resources to solve these cases. Don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement agency if you have any information about a cold case. Also, consider working with a private investigator.

They can often provide the resources and motivation necessary to solve these complex cases. Hopefully, the details above will help increase the chances your cold case will be solved.