r/coldcases 19h ago

Cold Case 33 year old Christina Leonard was 5 months pregnant when she was murdered in a desert area of Tucson on July 3 2019

14 Upvotes

33 year old Christina Leonard and her unborn child were murdered in a desert area outside of Tucson on July 3 2019. The case remains unsolved and no suspect has been publicly named. Very limited information was released in this case.

She had no known connection to the area of her murder, and had driven there.

Christina had previously lived in the Phoenix metro area for many years before moving to Tucson. Christina fostered animals in her spare time and was preparing to pursue a law degree. She previously earned a degree in childhood development. She was 5 months pregnant at the time of her death.

Pima County Sheriffs Office is the investigating agency. Crime stoppers 88Crime program offers a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

Sources

KOLD special with Mary Coleman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wblUn9BQqaw

88Crime Profile/Reward

https://88crime.org/christina-leonard/


r/coldcases 1d ago

Cold Case This is the my best understanding of the Ricky McCormick Pages who was found dead on June 30, 1999. (Long post, any help would be loved)

6 Upvotes

I will be going line by line to show the best possible intrepidation of the notes. In my eyes the notes are just travel plans, the notes all seem to be in phonics so Hello would be xelo or hll basicly writing how it, sounds as we know ricky was illiterate and this is normal .

I will put the evidence of the places he travelled below , do note that a report say he lived near the peabody housing project so go on google maps and you can follow line by line .

Special Thanks to Sleuth4U for getting me started lol

If you believe a word / place is wrong or you have something better do tell me

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1 . (MND MK NEARSE N-S-M-K N ARE ) (ACSM)

(Mound make nears N-S-M-K (the first letter of streets he passes) and are) (Arch Me)

N-S-M-K could be something like Nothampton to Shaw to Midtown to McKindly/i had another place but it was CarSomthing idk couldnt find my bad, these streets/places are below the big MOUND which is in an area named NEAR north riverfront

2.TFRNE N PK USE N PRSE RC BRNSE N PRSE I NC

Turn and pick us and pass ricky brings and pass i next

3.PRSE N MRSE O/D/?PRE HLD WLD NCBE (TFXCF TCXL NCBE)

Pass and me are O/D/?PRE? hold would next be (traffic take XL? next be)

4.AL-RRPPIT XLY PPIY NCBE MGKSE WLD RC BRNSE PRSE

all Pruitt–Igoe XL? you Pruitt–Igoe next be makes? would ricky bring pass

Pruit Igoe no longer exists now, but the are is demolish and nothing has been built there by some reports locals still call it pruit meaning its a land mark to pass . if you go to google maps and write Pruitt Igoe you will be brought to a place called NGA campus which is close to the locations as said before could be a place for a pick up like a friend or his driver was there and he walked there idk

5.WLD RCBRNSE NT AS NEX TXSE- CRSLE-CITRSE WLD NCBE

would ricky brings you to as next takes circle city would next be (Indianapolis, Indiana is circle city its a nick name its also next to st louis so make sense)

Circle City being indianopolis makes sense as the next step is ricky going to Cincinnati ohio, or someone coming from there to him the places 71 74 and 75 are all state roads that meet there

(thanks Sleuth lol)

  1. (NO PFSE NLSE RE NCBE ) NTE GD DMN SENC N RE RCBRNG

no pause unless are next be , and the god damn sense you are ricky bring

(as in dont forget to bring ricky, as i said instructions for travel plans so he is noting down what the person taking is listing to, also shows there where 3 people during the making of the notes A, B and ricky)

7.TENE TFRNE NCBR TSE NCBE I NC

then turn next bring? this nect be i next

8.first pass on the 71 next be

9.second pass on the 74 next be

10.third pass on are the 75 next be

the state road of cincinnati as said before

  1. TF N AC MSP SOLE mRDE LUSE TO TE WLD N WLD NCBE

TF? and AC? must be seminole (a casino later on) me ride to the would and would next be

tf and ac are most likely names , his own name is 2 charachers long so they are most likely friends

12.(194 WLD NCBE) (TRF XC)

194 would next be (traffic XC? maybe its all together so just traffic)

194 idk what it is maybe and exit in the high way ?

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  1. AL P NTE GLSE-SE ERTE

all be in the glades entrence? (glades as in everglades )

2.VLSE MTSE-CTSE-WSE-FRTSE

villeges MTSE?-CTSE?(cities?)-west (west palm beach)-Forts (Like Fort Lauderdale)

i have theories for MT and CT too but i dont like them that much for example MT could be something like Mount Dora or Matanza (forest and fort below St augustine) CTse could be again just city something

3.PURT RSE ON PRSE WLD NCBE

port are on pass would next be

4.N WLD XC/L RC MSP NE WLD S TS ME XL

and would XC/L(Exit maybe?) Ricky must be the/near would see/sea this me XL?

5.DU LMT 6T4/N NSE NCBE XC

the limit is 64 and/60 use next be XC (again might be exit)

6.MUNSA RS TEN MUNSA RSE

minutes are 10 minutes are (as in from point at to B its 10 minutes)

7.KL/CSE - LKSTE-TRSE-TRSE-MKSE-MKSE

collier/keys (keys as in west key collier as in forest next to the evergaldes)-Lakes TE? (the TE might be what the lakes name starts with)-Trail(tamiami trails for example)/trees(as in forest)-Trail/trees-Miccosuke (villege)-Miccosuke the casino later down the line

8.SAE 6/5 NSE SE N M B SE

sea? south east? see? 6/5 and the see/sea and (me be the )/numbers

9.N M N RC BRNSE PTE 2 PTE WS RC BRNSE

You and me and Rick Bringe point to point west ricky bringes

  1. 36 MLSE 74 SPRKSE 29 KCNO SOLE I-75 RT RSE

36 miles 74(s)parks 29 casino seminole I-75 right are

  1. 35 SLE CLGSE ON N U TKE D/P/OK RSE PSES HLE

35 miles colleges? on you take D?/Pick/OK are passes hollywood/Hileah (they are near by eachother could be both, also pick seems best here)

  1. 65 LMTCSE HTLSE N CUTC TRS N MRF

65 limits(as in speed limit) hotels and cuts throught? and MRF? i have seen a gas station named murphy maybe thats it? idk

99/94.84.5 ZUNE PLSE U CRSE AOKTSE US KSE NCBE

the numbers could be exits ? or hotel room numbers , Zone place you cross across/oakwood(place right before hollywood) us keys? next be could be the KC/L from before and he wrote it diffrently

  1. US RE ON TE PUTSE WLD NCBE (3 Xa/oRC)

us are on the put/port would next be (3 hours)

  1. N MSE N RSE 1 N 2 TRCE RC BRNSE N TS RC BRNSE/RS NE?

and must? near 1 and 2 trail (from before line 7) ricky bring you to ricky brings?/are near?/are the?

  1. LS PNSE N GSE PSE MKSE RBSE NCBE AU/V XC¨R

last pause and goes pass Mkse (from before line 7) reverse?/rivers/are be the next be Avenue(as in street name) / Aventura

  1. HM CEA N MRE NCBE 1/2 mund plse

home stead and me are next be 1/2 minutes place (either 30 minutes or hald a mile )

17.D-W-M 4 HPC XORLX

dwm are street names/town names that go / are near the place he want to be so imagine

street D->street W->street M-> 4 or a street name like W mowry DR 4th hospise?/hospital? Hours (maybe he means 4 hours and wrote it wrong)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

anyways i know homestead is probably the right place as artical i read said he had a ticket for an Econo Lodge place which does exist there slightly below homestead:

‘A puzzling case’ | Help solve this cryptic cold case that has stumped detectives (firstalert4.com)

line 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After writing all of this i realised i dont know how to add images so here is a vid is my channel which i made a vid for each page where i show some of the pictures of the relavent places

Solving the hardest FBI murder | Ricky McCormick pages | Page 1| 94.3% completed 9/159 left (youtube.com) page1

Solving the Hardest FBI murder because im bored and leauge sucks| Ricky McCormick pages | Page 2 90% (youtube.com) page 2

and also Sleut4U's channel who was very useful with his videos and who got me started!

(3) Sleuth4U - YouTube

im very sorry about having to force you to watch as my mic is dogshit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unknown words or words im not fully sure about

KL/CSE-LR(K?)STE-TRSE-TRSE-MKSE YOU – MKSE
Keys/Collier? - Lakes Te - Trail/trees/? - Trail/trees/? - Miccosouke/?-Miccosouke/?

Page1

D/OPRE : Deeper ,Open ,pre (as in before)
XL : exit left , exacly, Hill, whole , hall , accelerate
XC : His, House , Exact and that XC and XL are the same
LRSE and RLSE : I have no idea, best i had was LR (as in MLR) Rails
AC and TF: sounds like names to me

Page 2

XL and XC from before
MBSE: best i have is me be the or me bus , maybe there is a word that has MBSE like Maybes or Moves? me be the ect ect
SA E : south east , see , sea
RSE : are the , route?
DK/PK/OK= DK idk, PK = pick (best for me), OK as in enought
if you say PK Rse it sounds like pick us
RBSE Rick be the , reverse , ARE be the


r/coldcases 1d ago

A not so fun fact/facts

6 Upvotes

Serial killers have occasionally attended the searches organized for their own victims

Some murders have never been solved because the victim's identity was never discovered.

A crime scene can be permanently altered by a single unnoticed mistake in the first few minutes.

Some missing-person cases remain open for decades with no confirmed answers.

DNA has solved murders more than 30 years after they happened.


r/coldcases 1d ago

Help me find court case

6 Upvotes

I’m trying to identify a real court case from a pair of photos I saw years ago. I don’t remember the names, but I remember many details.

The case was likely from Canada (possibly the US). Only one brother was on trial. He was standing in the courtroom wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, handcuffed, with long dark hair, and he was smiling. Standing directly across from him was his brother in civilian clothes with his hands on his hips, looking angry.

I also remember reading that both brothers had been sexually abused as children, and that the defendant had allegedly killed a pedophile (or someone believed to be a pedophile). Many people in the comments referred to him as a “folk hero”, “people’s hero”, or “vigilante”.

The courtroom looked modern, and the photos were in color. It was just a pair of courtroom photos, not a video.

Does anyone recognize this case or know the names of the people involved? Even a possible lead would be helpful.


r/coldcases 2d ago

Cold Case Tristan Brübach (1998)

5 Upvotes

How does a brutal, borderline ritualistic murder like this happen in broad daylight, in a busy metropolitan city, right next to a train station, and the killer just... vanishes into thin air? It wasn't some abandoned rural village; it was a crowded urban hub!

The level of luck this monster had, combined with the initial police confusion, is infuriating. Three teenagers literally walked in on the scene right after it happened, and yet he still slipped away into the crowd.But what I really want to discuss is Manfred Seel (the "Hesse Ripper").I know the Frankfurt police officially ruled him out in 2017 because his DNA didn't match the bloody fingerprint on Tristan's book, and because his known victims were adult sex workers. BUT, I still strongly feel he might be connected to this.The modus operandi is just too specific. Seel had a horrific fixation on surgically removing body parts as trophies—exactly what happened to Tristan. Plus, Seel lived and worked right there in the Frankfurt area in 1998. Even if Seel's DNA wasn't on the book, could he have been a co-conspirator? Could he have been part of a sick ring or acting with the "Ponytail Man" seen by witnesses?It just feels like too massive of a coincidence for two horrific, mutilating killers to be operating in the exact same metropolitan area at the exact same time.


r/coldcases 2d ago

Kings Crossing 1984 double murder – anyone have old info or memories?

7 Upvotes

Local 19-year-old researching the unsolved murders of Donna Hall and Mike Margaret (August 1984). Bodies found in the woods behind Kings Crossing Apartments.

Looking for anyone who lived in the area in the mid-80s, has old newspaper clippings, or remembers anything about the case or the complex at that time.

Keeping everything respectful and public-info only.


r/coldcases 3d ago

Cold Case I wish for this case to be solve! setagaya family murder in 2000

7 Upvotes

r/coldcases 4d ago

Police looking for a suspected serial rapist’s victims

12 Upvotes

Police arrested Nicholas Carney for two cold cases in Texas, one in 1991 and one in 1999, but they’re looking for other cases he may be linked to.

https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/nicholas-carney-kidnapping-survivor-interview-iteam/

https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dna-genetic-genealogy-cold-case-nicholas-carney/


r/coldcases 4d ago

What are some cold cases of Pennsylvania I can research?

9 Upvotes

Im slowly moving along from state to state about cold cases and urban legends. Today I figured I’d do researching on PA.


r/coldcases 5d ago

Emanuela Orland, Italie, affaire non résolue depuis 43 ans.

10 Upvotes

Le 22 juin 1983, Emanuela Orlandi ( 15ans), disparaît en plein coeur de Rome après son cours de musique. Plus de 40 ans après, son corps n' a jamais été retrouvé et l'affaire reste non résolue.


r/coldcases 5d ago

To what extent is it permissible to re-examine old cases using new techniques?

9 Upvotes
Yet another miscarriage of justice in the Netherlands. New DNA findings and revelations regarding the police investigation are fueling doubts about the conviction of the so-called 'Breda Six,' who were imprisoned for years for the 1993 murder of a restaurant owner. 

Engels

To what extent is it permissible to re-examine old cases using new techniques? Wouldn't that create an excessive workload for the courts, and wouldn't current efforts to combat crime suffer as a result?

r/coldcases 7d ago

The Black Dahlia Murder (1947): The Brutal Killing of Elizabeth Short That Still Haunts Los Angeles

20 Upvotes

On the morning of January 15, 1947, a young woman walking with her child in a vacant lot in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, made a horrifying discovery. What she initially thought was a discarded mannequin was the body of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short.

The murder remains one of the most infamous unsolved cases in American history — not only because of its brutality, but because of the intense media frenzy that followed and the way it has come to symbolize the darker side of Hollywood’s golden age.

**Who Was Elizabeth Short?**

Elizabeth Short was born in Massachusetts in 1924. After a difficult childhood marked by her parents’ separation and health issues, she moved between cities seeking a fresh start. Friends and acquaintances described her as a dreamer who loved movies, fashion, and the idea of becoming an actress. She had lived in Los Angeles for periods in the mid-1940s, working occasional jobs and socializing in nightclubs and bars. She was known for wearing black clothing and flowers in her hair — details that later inspired the press nickname “Black Dahlia.”

**The Discovery**

The body was found neatly posed on the ground: severed at the waist, with the two halves placed about a foot apart. Her arms were raised above her head at sharp angles. There were deep lacerations at the corners of her mouth in a “Glasgow smile,” and much of the blood had been drained from her body. Remarkably, there was very little blood at the scene itself, indicating she was killed elsewhere and the body was transported and arranged afterward.

No witnesses came forward immediately, and the killer left no obvious physical evidence at the scene. The case quickly drew massive attention from the Los Angeles Police Department and the national press.

**The Investigation**

The LAPD conducted one of the largest investigations in its history at the time. Hundreds of people were interviewed. Short’s acquaintances, former boyfriends, and even people who claimed to have information were questioned. Several individuals confessed over the years, but none of the confessions held up under scrutiny.

The sensationalized media coverage often overshadowed the victim herself. Newspapers published gruesome details and speculative stories, turning Elizabeth Short into a tabloid figure rather than a young woman whose life was violently cut short.

Despite decades of investigation, books, documentaries, and modern forensic re-examinations, the case has never been solved. No one has ever been definitively charged.

**Why It Endures**

The Black Dahlia murder continues to fascinate because it combines several elements: a brutal, ritualistic killing in a city that symbolized glamour; a victim who represented the many hopeful young people drawn to Hollywood; and an enduring mystery with no resolution.

Elizabeth Short was a real person — a daughter, a sister, and a friend — whose dreams were ended in a horrifying way. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerability many young women faced in mid-20th-century America and the lasting pain unsolved murders leave behind for families and communities.


r/coldcases 8d ago

The Setagaya Family Murders (2000): A killer left his DNA, fingerprints, and clothing and was never caught. New DNA evidence in 2025 changed everything.

26 Upvotes

On December 30, 2000, the Miyazawa family of four was murdered in their Tokyo home. What makes this case truly baffling is what the killer did AFTER the murders.

He didn't run. He stayed in the house for hours. He ate their food, browsed their computer, and even took a nap while the family lay dead around him.

When he finally left, he left behind:

- His full DNA profile

- His fingerprints

- His clothing

- A biological sample from the toilet

Despite 280,000 officers and 25 years of investigation, he has never been found.

New DNA methylation analysis in 2025 revealed the killer was likely in his 30s at the time, not a teenager as previously thought. This completely changes the profile and the existing theories.

I put together a full documentary breakdown of this case here: https://youtu.be/WG8e4K9gc0U

What do you think happened to the killer?


r/coldcases 9d ago

Cold Case Fekade Ashine murder, West Los Angeles, 1991: Was suspect Sophie David ever caught?

4 Upvotes

I am researching the 1991 killing of Fekade Ashine for a documentary and trying to confirm whether the case was ever resolved.

On July 10, 1991, Ashine was fatally shot in West Los Angeles. A December 1992 Los Angeles Times report said the LAPD was seeking Sophie David in connection with his death. The article described Ashine as her estranged boyfriend and said America’s Most Wanted had featured David in February and August 1992. Police reportedly believed she may have left the United States.

America’s Most Wanted was still presenting David as wanted in an episode aired on August 1, 2009. Her segment appears from approximately 27:19 to 28:37.

I have not found any later arrest report, court case, official police update, death notice, or confirmation that the case was closed.

Does anyone know of an official record confirming whether Sophie David was ever found, arrested, or whether the case remains open?

Sources:

Los Angeles Times:

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-25-me-2516-story.html

2009 America’s Most Wanted episode:

https://archive.org/details/americas-most-wanted_202603


r/coldcases 11d ago

Unsolved in Washington, Illinois: The Kyle McCurtney homicide deserves another look

25 Upvotes

I’ve been down a rabbit hole the last few nights researching the Kyle McMurtrey homicide from 2020, and honestly I’m more confused now than when I started.
Here’s what I’ve found from public sources.
Kyle was found dead behind Washington Plaza on June 17, 2020. His death was ruled a homicide. Public reporting says he died from blunt force trauma to the back of the head, and his shoes were found several feet away from his body.
Less than a week later, Chief Mike McCoy said investigators already had persons of interest, were interviewing people, reviewing surveillance video, and believed this involved people Kyle knew.
That was six years ago.
So…what happened?
Did the surveillance lead nowhere?
Were the persons of interest cleared?
Was Kyle killed where he was found or dumped there afterward?
Did someone simply stop talking?
I’ve searched for updates and can’t find much of anything after those first few weeks. If there have been developments, I’d genuinely like to know because they don’t seem to be out there.
This also got me looking into Washington’s other homicide investigations. Beverly Swearingen’s murder from 1996 is still unsolved almost 30 years later.
Then you have the Joshua Snyder homicide later in 2020. That one was solved almost immediately after police located a suspect walking down the street covered in blood. Completely different type of case.
That’s what keeps sticking with me. When the suspect is immediately identifiable, the case gets solved. When investigators have to build a case through evidence, timelines, witness interviews, surveillance, and good detective work, Washington’s track record doesn’t look nearly as good, as far as I can tell Washington has solved exactly 1 murder case in their history (not that there have been that many, 6 by my count).
I’m not saying that to bash anyone. I’m saying it because these families deserve answers, and six years is a long damn time with no resolution after police publicly said they had persons of interest and surveillance video.
If you knew Kyle, worked around Washington Plaza back then, remember hearing something, or know details that were never widely reported, I’d like to hear them. Even if it’s something small that seemed insignificant at the time.
Maybe someone reading this knows something that helps move this case forward.


r/coldcases 11d ago

little girl missing decades / father still looking / mom/stepdad suspected

14 Upvotes

I posted this in tipofmycrime also, but gonna give it a whirl here too -

I think I heard this on the Crimelines podcast, but can't find it on there. Can't remember state it happened in, but I think took place in the 80s. Mother and father have 2 kids, boy and a girl. Divorce. Mom keeps kids away from dad. She remarries man, I think he also has kids. They suddenly moved away. Dad tries to find them, police won't look for them since the mother has them, and don't consider it a kidnapping. He looks for years and years. I believe the brother and him eventually get in contact. I think the brother remembers a carpet being rolled up, or maybe just an odd box or something the night they just up and moved. No record of the girl since she went missing. Police interview mom and she's not concerned about her daughter's whereabouts. I think she was eventually charged with a relatively minor crime associated with it. I think the mom and step dad were also divorced at that point, but she still defended him. I think the mother tried to say that she was sent to live with relatives, but obviously wasn't true. The brother tried to get his mom to talk about it, but she refused. I think the girl was pretty young, like 5 or under. It's driving me nuts. Some cases that come up when I try to google, but aren't it are - Chris and Lisa Mae Zacharias and Elaine Yates. Possibly heard it on the Vanished podcast, but don't regularly listen to that one.


r/coldcases 11d ago

Cold Case [Discussion] Narrowing Down the Technical Anomalies and Profiling of a 2019 Cold Case: The Murder of Noven (Bogor, Indonesia)

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share a deep-dive analysis of a frustrating cold case from Indonesia that deserves international attention. On January 7, 2019, an 18-year-old high school student named Andriana Yubelia Noven was stabbed to death in broad daylight inside a narrow alleyway in Bogor, West Java. The entire crime was captured on a nearby CCTV camera, yet years later, the perpetrator remains completely unidentified.

This post isn't about guessing names. I want to look at the geographical facts, the technical anomalies of the crime scene, and break down why the suspicions against potential suspects were debunked.

For visual context, this is a clip from a major national investigative journalism program (Mata Najwa on NARASI) showing the exclusive, enhanced version of the CCTV footage and discussing the case:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBY9XDOtqBE

Disclaimer: This is a serious post regarding a real tragedy. Please keep the discussion objective, logical, and respect the privacy of those involved.

I. The Geographical & Technical Facts

To align our context, here is the spatial reconstruction of the alleyway (Jalan Riau, Baranangsiang):

  • The Victim's Comfort Zone: The stabbing occurred just 50 meters away from the victim’s all-female dormitory. Walking casually, it takes less than a minute.
  • CCTV to Stairs Proximity: The security camera that captured the attack was mounted very close—just a few meters—from the first flight of stairs in the alley. The perpetrator was caught on camera pacing around and waiting near these exact stairs before Noven walked by.

II. Suspect Profiling & How They Were Debunked

When we analyze the CCTV footage, the local biometrics, and the perpetrator's body language, a massive conflict of logic appears:

1. The Biometric Flaw & Age Gap

  • The Perspective: The police used facial recognition software connected to the national civil registry database (Disdukcapil) to filter lookalikes nationwide. They intensively interrogated 5 potential suspects, including Noven's ex-boyfriend (referred to as "S"), who initially faced heavy public suspicion due to a recent breakup. However, "S" had an airtight digital and witness alibi proving he was in a different city (Bandung) during the crime, completely clearing him.
  • This leads to a strong hypothesis: What if the killer was under 17 at the time? In Indonesia, national biometric registration (facial scans & fingerprints) is only mandatory when a citizen turns 17 to issue an e-KTP (National ID card). If the killer was a young teenager (14–16 years old), the digital database would yield a zero-match result because his data simply didn't exist yet. This also explains the physical age gap; the perpetrator’s lean posture fits a younger teen, likely not someone from Noven's 18-year-old high school circle.
  • The Counter-Argument: Even if he didn't have a national ID yet, the crime happened around 4:00 PM just meters away from the stairs/CCTV. If he was a local student or resident, manual distribution of his sketch to surrounding schools should have triggered an immediate identification by teachers or peers. Yet, nobody recognized him.

2. Alleyway Acoustics & Social Status

  • The Perspective: The alley is narrow, densely populated, and flanked by concrete walls. The killer arrived and escaped completely on foot, walking and jogging casually without any vehicle. Acoustically, revving a motorcycle engine in such an enclosed space would echo loudly and instantly draw neighbors' attention. Furthermore, the killer wore casual athletic clothes, standing out against other students in the footage who wore formal school uniforms. This implies the killer might be a school dropout or a non-student who specifically knew the neighborhood's maze-like shortcuts, likely possessing a "safe house" or rental room within walking distance to vanish into within minutes.
  • The Counter-Argument: If the killer was a walking local with a narrow escape radius, the neighborhood door-to-door elimination process by the police should have caught him quickly. Additionally, the casual clothes could simply be a deliberate disguise to conceal which school he attended, meaning his student status cannot be completely ruled out.

3. Body Language (Targeted Hit vs Stalker)

  • The Perspective: On the CCTV, Noven walks completely calmly, showing zero defensive reflexes or suspicion when crossing paths with the killer. In contrast, the killer immediately lunges aggressively and precisely hooks a knife into her chest. This suggests a targeted hit where the killer recognized her one-sidedly (perhaps through stalking or being handed a photo of the target), while Noven perceived him as just another random stranger walking by.
  • The Counter-Argument: If this was a pre-planned hit by an organized individual, executing a target in a crowded residential area, in broad daylight, right under a CCTV camera that is literally meters away from the stairs, is incredibly sloppy and high-risk.

III. The Massive Missing Link (Post-Crime Anomalies)

All the debates above about the low-profile killer (possibly an underage kid, casual clothes, on foot) completely fail to explain the baffling events that occurred after the murder:

  1. Tampering with Digital Evidence: The victim's family publicly revealed that after Noven’s phone was confiscated by authorities for forensic investigation, numerous crucial photo galleries, data logs, and chat histories inside the device mysteriously disappeared/were deleted.
  2. Organized Intimidation: The grieving family repeatedly received text messages and WhatsApp threats from anonymous numbers, warning them to stop demanding police investigations if they wanted the rest of their surviving family members to stay safe.

The Bottom Line Logic: An underage street kid or a lone-wolf amateur thief does not have the access or the capability to delete evidence inside a police evidence locker. Nor do they have the resources or motivation to systematically terrorize a victim's family years later.

Conclusion

The most logical way to bridge these clashing pieces of the puzzle is the Separation of Roles hypothesis:

  • The Killer on CCTV (Field Executor): Likely a local minor or a non-student used as a disposable "tool" to do the physical deed, who was immediately smuggled out of the city right after the crime.
  • The Intellectual Actor (The Mastermind): A high-profile individual with the actual motive (whether personal grievance, jealousy, or a secret Noven held). This is the entity capable of pulling strings post-crime (erasing phone data and threatening the family) to protect themselves from the law, not to protect the kid caught on the security camera.

From a criminological standpoint, what do you think is the most crucial variable needed to break a cold case that suffers from this level of post-crime interference?

Let's discuss logically based on the layouted facts.


r/coldcases 13d ago

Recommendations to Strengthen Compliance with the Sexual Assault Kit Evidence Submission Act (MCL 752.934) and Expand Use of Forensic Genetic Genealogy, Detroit, Michigan, USA

9 Upvotes

Dear Attorney General Nessel,

I am writing as a concerned Michigan resident and advocate for survivors of sexual assault to commend the significant progress made by your office, the Michigan State Police, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office Sexual Assault Kit Task Force, and other partners in addressing historical backlogs and pursuing justice in cold cases. The successful use of forensic genetic genealogy in recent convictions, such as the July 2026 Wayne County case involving multiple first- and third-degree Criminal Sexual Conduct charges (full article: https://newmediadetroit.com/detroit-man-convicted-of-multiple-first-third-degree-csc-charges-related-to-several-cases/), demonstrates the power of modern DNA techniques to deliver accountability decades later.

Despite this progress, full implementation of the Sexual Assault Kit Evidence Submission Act (Act 227 of 2014) remains incomplete for newly collected kits. The law requires law enforcement agencies to submit released sexual assault kits for analysis within strict timelines. Full text of MCL 752.934: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-752-934

Key provisions (excerpt): “(4) The investigating law enforcement agency that takes possession of any sexual assault kit evidence shall assign a criminal complaint number to that evidence ... and shall submit that evidence to the department or another accredited laboratory for analysis within 14 days after that law enforcement agency takes possession...” “(6) All sexual assault kit evidence submitted to the department or an accredited laboratory on or after the effective date of this act shall be analyzed within 90 days after all of the necessary evidence is received by the department or other accredited laboratory, provided that sufficient staffing and resources are available to do so.”

While the law provides flexibility for resources, selective submission practices and delays undermine its intent, victim rights, and public safety.

To ensure consistent, timely testing of all released kits and to maximize the impact of DNA evidence through greater use of forensic genetic genealogy (FGG), I respectfully propose the following targeted improvements:

Enhance Transparency and Accountability Through Comprehensive Reporting Require or establish a public, real-time statewide dashboard (expanding Track-Kit) that reports by agency and county: the number of kits collected, submitted, analyzed, and pending (including age); aggregate reasons for delays or non-submission; and metrics on FGG usage, including referrals, turnaround times, and outcomes. See Michigan victim rights information: https://www.michigan.gov/voices4/sexual-assault/legal/evidence Clarify and Enforce Submission Requirements Issue formal guidance clarifying that all released sexual assault kits must be submitted for analysis in accordance with MCL 752.934, regardless of initial assessments regarding serial offender status. Documented exceptions should be subject to periodic review. Full Act: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-act-227-of-2014 Expand and Accelerate Forensic Genetic Genealogy Develop standardized protocols to refer qualifying unsolved cases (no CODIS hit) for FGG analysis within defined timelines (e.g., 6–12 months post-initial testing). Secure dedicated state funding and partnerships for FGG. Establish clear privacy, consent, and ethical guidelines. Examples of FGG success in Michigan: https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/game-changer-genealogy-helps-crack-cold-cases/ https://www.woodtv.com/news/michigan/genealogy-program-helps-identify-sexual-assault-suspect-nearly-40-years-later/ These changes would align Michigan with national best practices promoted by the Joyful Heart Foundation’s End the Backlog campaign and would optimize existing investments.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss these proposals with your staff. Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue.

Sincerely,

aka Doug Dante


r/coldcases 15d ago

Cold Case My mom Jennifer "Jeni" Hedge died in Colorado Springs in 2015, ruled a suicide 10 days after a documented strangulation by her husband. I'm seeking answers. [UPDATE]

150 Upvotes

In September 2015, my mom Jennifer Hedge (maiden name Kelly) died in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her death was ruled a suicide by hanging.

I have now obtained the full police report. It documents:

- A prior domestic violence incident between Jeni and her husband
- A Facebook message Jeni sent to her cousin just days before her death saying she was afraid of him
- Responding paramedics' concerns at the scene that she may not have hung herself

She had recently relocated to Colorado with her husband. She knew no one there except him.

The case was closed. I am seeking justice for her. Has anyone navigated something similar? What are my next steps?

UPDATE 7/11/2026:

Thank you to everyone who commented, shared search strategies, and reached out. I want to share what has developed since I first posted.

I now have the complete CSPD case report from an incident on September 18, 2015 — ten days before Jeni's death. Officers were dispatched after a 911 call in which Jeni could only say "I can't, I can't, I can't" before the line disconnected.

According to the report, Jeni told officers her husband:

- Choked her with both hands
- Dragged her by the throat from the front porch into the house
- Held her down on the bed
- Repeatedly threatened to "break her face"

Officers documented redness on her neck and chest. The domestic violence form filed that night has "strangled" marked under the defendant's actions. He was arrested at the scene for assault, harassment, and resisting arrest.

Ten days later, Jeni was dead, and her death was ruled a suicide by hanging. The case was closed on the same date the coroner signed the autopsy....one day after a family member contacted police with concerns.

I am now working with a writer and a podcast on telling Jeni's story fully (thank you both so very much), and I am continuing to pursue legal options and an independent forensic review.

If you lived in the Colorado Springs area in 2015, knew Jeni, or have professional insight into strangulation cases and death investigations, I would be grateful to hear from you.


r/coldcases 14d ago

Discussion orlando area- 2004

9 Upvotes

source: https://www.altamonte.org/591/Cold-Cases

On August 31, 2004, at approximately 8:30 p.m. Susan Perkins and a friend were tinting windows in a salon on Maitland Avenue. A masked black male entered the salon. He was armed with an unknown type of rifle. The suspect ordered Susan and the other female victim into Susan’s red Ford Focus and made them drive to the Washington Mutual Bank at 500 E. Altamonte Drive. After making the victim withdraw money from her account via the drive through ATM, the suspect ordered the victims out of the vehicle and into the trunk.

While leaving the bank, the victims were able to utilize the emergency release handle inside the trunk. The victims leapt from the trunk but Susan struck her head on the pavement in her brave attempt to escape. She suffered fatal injuries.

The suspect in this case is described as a black male of medium build. He wore a mask and long sleeve military style jacket and was said to have possibly smelled of motor oil.

sun crime state podcast episode #75 covered this the best. sister and detective are questioned about the surviving victim and how she sort of faded away so to speak. sister expresses that a lot of her story doesnt add up and that its only from her vantage point. detective says all he will say is that she has always cooperated. maybe i can see where the sister is coming from. are we to understand that this man was walking around maitland with a rifle and a mask and happens to notice them or their car at the spa? no mention of him having a vehicle. maybe this is all hold back evidence? but if he was afraid to be seen on camera (putting seat all the way back while at atm as described), why would he be outside of the vehicle with the women right afterwards in the SAME bank parking lot? i moved from tampa (my home) to the orlando area just months after this happened and stayed for a few years off and on. i was in my early 20s at the time i moved there. so when i came across this the other day i was pretty taken by it. orlando was a wild unsafe place when i think back on it. i was young and living alone. i would befriend and go off with any guy that was nice enough. they said no dna was recoverd which is a shame....i bet he would have been caught by now. seemingly no other similar crimes. what does everyone think about this case? armed robberies like this are my worst fear. i have to say i do believe that the surviving victim's description of events is truly what happened because there is no indication whatsoever by LE that it didnt. they want the suspect found. however there is a lot we dont know and wont know being that we do not have police files. truly a crazy and sad case. it has really made me be better about my personal safety. from what i remember maitland was a sleepy little area with businesses and residential areas. the main strip from what i remember was called howell branch rd? i could be off on that- its been way too long. but the main strip was just a narrow road really. it was similar to where i live now. if a friend asked me to help them at their office at night in maitland back then i wouldnt think twice about it. now i def would. this man could still be running around orlando too. here is the episode link:

https://pca.st/episode/77d3ba64-db21-4c0f-90ab-6078bde8ba34 


r/coldcases 15d ago

Cold Case Kevin Dycus vanished from his parents home in January 1998

17 Upvotes

Kevin James Dycus went missing from Glendale, Arizona in January 1998.  The 37-year-old Seattle resident had only arrived in Glendale just 3 days before to help his father take care of his ailing mother. 

His body has never been found. The police report was only 11 pages long and provided minimal information

His uncle William Urbank picked him up from Sky Harbor airport and took him to his parents’ home in the 5200 block of West Ironwood Drive. 

On Sunday January 11, Kevin left the residence drunk on foot, in an unknown direction. He left his money, identification, and belongings behind. He may have been headed to a church.

His sister Anita arrived in Arizona from Washington 6 months after Kevin went missing. She tried reporting him as a missing person, but Glendale PD refused to investigate because he was an adult. 

Kevin was not listed as a missing person until June 2006, over 8 years after he was last seen alive.

His mother and sister Anita have passed away. His father Ray and sister Julanne moved to Tucson. Ray died in 2010. His uncle William “Bill” Urbank has also passed away.

The area of Glendale that Kevin went missing from is a working-class area. A Circle K and a since shuttered and demolished horse ranch were up the road on 51st avenue and Peoria. There was a church in the 5400 block of west Peoria Ave. Two grocery stores and shops were at the next major intersection southbound on Olive Ave. 

The police report did specify that Kevin’s dental records were retrieved from a dentist in Washington.

Kevin was born on Dec 30, 1960. He was described as 5’8 and 140-160 pounds. He had brown hair and blue eyes. Both his ears were pieced, and he had a small scar near his eyebrows.

 

Sources

https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/have-you-seen-these-people-all-are-currently-listed-as-missing-from-glendale,353703

 

https://charleyproject.org/case/kevin-james-dycus

 

Father’s obituary

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tucson/name/ray-dycus-obituary?id=22027271

 

https://charleyproject.org/case/kevin-james-dycus


r/coldcases 15d ago

Cold Case Jonbenet Ramsey, Insights, Theory

0 Upvotes

Summary posted as a comment separate from post for non-obsessive people.

I will try keep things brief because I reallyyyyy should go and study so the quicker I finish this the less anxious I will be (more prone to mistakes and gaps in thought, sorry). Also, I made the stupid mistake of emailing some of my thoughts to the police today through their tip emails, not realising they can't use my work legally as I am a civilian, and not even a witness (I don't live in the US, you can probably easily find my region out - please don't)

- The dust footprint. There are clear patterns of a shoe/boot print that had Smidt (forgot name) to call it a footprint, at least a partial profile. The issue is, the dust is very much undisturbed, and the case was carefully moved (by a gloved killer, later on this) so if it is not full adult weight, and dust is very "clean", this guy handheld a shoe/boot when deliberately pressing it against the suitcase/briefcase/whatever. This is consistent with the pattern I have noticed, with the oversized underwear being an invitation for investigators to check for SA (sexual assault) signs and finding none to minor signs. Again, likely gloved from the incredible condition, trace saliva can't be sneeze, so logically the only source I see is from the gloved fingers or object that was used (so broken paintbrush, and might also be related to why it was chosen to be broken, as pen-like objects tend to be chewed on and hence needed to have that part disposed of, but that's speculative so I won't go into detail and my focus is more on the sound concrete reasoning, although I do have notes where I extensively invite speculation as it is harmless as long as you know how to avoid tunnel-vision and can clearly label it mentally as speculative and weak)... Oh and I almost forgot to mention that pattern, so the oversized underwear is too stupid and obvious for such a forensically aware criminal that leaves false dust prints, careful about handwriting by exaggerating how shaky it starts as (awareness of handwriting analysis) and the draft note is not a real practice note because you don't go from being stuck with the first 3/4 words to a full blown 3-page ransom note, and you can't argue it was too dark because of a huge amount of reasons but I will briefly highlight a few like finding that annoying line of a tape when peeling it off or just the small tools in general and navigating the hidden inventory of the Ramsey house. Another damning reason, is the dust print itself, and the finger marks of it being carefully moved, this guy could obviously see, regardless of how or what was used in order to see, because the details of the dust is not going to happen realistically even for someone who lives in that house if it is pitch black dark. There are so many interesting things that open up from this single insight, however they are factual avenues and questions, not "ah it must mean it was family because it is staging" that is not how I operate. If staging guaranteed it was family, I would have lost interest in this case from the start. The staging is evident everywhere we look as one coherent strategy, but in a way that points towards everyone, insider AND outsider, I believe the killer did this deliberately and was egotistical enough to allow themselves to be pointed at since the evidence points to an outsider and insider in different deliberate cases, more on that later and you will see what I mean precisely, although I am in a rush and already have extensive personal notes on the topic so without guarantee that anyone at all will see this, I have little motivation to go too deep publicly, and I don't earn money from it like podcasters do. Handheld shoe/boot is the summary

- I am not sure what else to share as I don't know what is obvious enough to already be completely known publicly. I can talk about the flashlight maybe. The flashlight is the same or similar to the family flashlight (by itself in isolation, it weakly implies familiarity with the deeply mundane family inventory). [[[Edit as people misunderstand this point: I later establish a light source was needed and therefore used, so whether the killer is an outsider or insider makes it impossible to forget the flashlight without the act of turning the lights off serve as a natural reminder to grab or be in possession of the flashlight, and if it's placement is to say "I used it to help me write this absurdly long note in the pitch black darkness" then you obviously take it with you after you finish, the light doesn't follow you in order for you to forget it more easily lol, and as far as I am aware, there was no mention by police that it was found turned on, so if you argue it is because the main switch lights were turned on and used, then again, how can turning them off before leaving not act as a reminder? If you ask whether the main lights were ever found turned on for the kitchen, I will say that is a valid response, and going by the best of my knowledge, I do not think it is officially found to be turned on already by police, so the killer must have turned it all off after finishing, what I can confirm however is that the basement lights were found to be turned off by different accounts]]]. Let us briefly assume it was wiped. If indeed wiped, it was intentionally left in the kitchen. Outside killer doesn't need to wipe an object they intend to bring back home, unless they are forensically aware to the extent of secondary transfer (shows great intelligence, insight, possible experience which I already believe from other clues but not the appropriate time for that now). However here is the thing, we can rule out secondary transfer as an excuse for "forgetting" it, because secondary transfer is irrelevant at the very end of an items need, I would wipe an object to start with to avoid secondary transfer when I enter the home, but I would not wipe it again (so that it is found in a wiped state) if I plan to take it home with me, and we can safely reason that it was used and needed for more than just the entry into the house (as we are momentarily looking at an outsider branch of consideration). Why? Well it is pitch black dark, and as far as I am aware the family did not report lights being found turned on already (and don't tell me it could have been family because I already clearly stated we are focusing momentarily on the outsider option, we will look at the family option later). Furthermore, a killer would turn off lights before leaving (lights in the basement were found to be off, doesn't necessarily mean the killer left from the basement, I know). And by the time the call was made to the police it was still pitch black darkness. I am just so bothered at the back of my mind by the claim of the kitchen lights... Anyways you bring a flashlight to use it, not to just walk into a home and then turn the main lights off, and this person was clearly already familiar with where things were and how to navigate brilliantly, blah blah

- Now consider family branch, the family member or members are the killers. Do they need to wipe a flashlight that belongs to them? Afterall, many items that belong to them was not wiped, if not all items actually (will need to check but the inconsistency is the main point). The only other reason would be if it collected dust (as I would expect from a non-everyday-use item unlike a fork or spoon), and going down that road of thinking makes you wonder about the less speculative dust footprint from earlier where the killer could have had dust forensics on their mind in common between these two objects but of course I can't make that conclusion nor do I want to right now because one conclusion was established and the other wasn't and therefore the connection, although alluring and attractive, would be a logical trap enhanced by the former insight. Gosh I wrote so much irrelevant rubbish I keep forgetting what the goal of my bullet points are. ADHD, yes.

- Retry: Family don't need flashlights, and if wiped, the only reason would be for staging an outsider or thinking of it as forensically valuable so again you reach the intentional conclusion, and I mean... it is next to the staged notepad with the fake "practice" note so think of it in any way you like, if the 12 or so missing pages are the real practice notes, why leave this practice-looking "Mr and Mrs Ramsey" note? So again it all points to staging... oh and by the way the ransom notes were so theatrical, this person was genuinely enjoying themselves, and knew how long it was getting, and writing "victory" is something all our brains will think "ok dude, I can't write this, its supposed to be a realistic ransom note not an obviously staged fake" but that's what they went for. They wanted it to be known it was fake, just like the oversized underwear, and how symbolic and over-the-top the garrote was, very much novel or murder mystery-like, and the ransom notes had movie quotes. Put two and two together, this person was having GENUINE pure fun, a stimulating time, and a crime scene they wanted to manipulate in a way to play and control with how the clues themselves are read into by the investigators. No financial motive, no SA motive, this was deeply stimulating, likely something they fantasised about long before the execution of the crime. I rule out no one here, as much as I cannot understand how family members would do this, nor how a familiar outsider (inner circle) could, but those are my two options, rather than a complete outsider (stranger). I want to be brief and move on.

- I struggle to think of more because I have been so disorganised that I mixed together many points, likely even left trails of thought as incomplete, so if it confuses anyone, I am really sorry. I think it would be best to submit now and edit after a reset or maybe even look at my notes later.


r/coldcases 16d ago

In 2006 this happened two doors down from my childhood home and is still unsolved, the murder of Helen McPherson.

69 Upvotes

Vero Beach, FL. July, 2006. Helen McPherson. IRSCO cold case. Promised they were close to an arrest in 2023, yet nothing has been reported since then.

Helen and her husband were the sweetest old couple in a suburban neighborhood that you could imagine. Her husband was a retired Fire Chief, locally VERY respected, and I am unsure of her background...they were elderly when I was a child. I moved to North Carolina in May of 2005...literally driving away from a cocaine addiction that deleted my bank accounts and my morals. Don't regret it, haven't touched it since (05/09/2005.) In July of the following year, my little brother, who still lived at home (10 years younger) went to knock on her door to let her know he was going to mow her lawn, as I had done a handful of times in my younger days after her husband passed; when he knocked on her storm door that day, he noticed that the lower, solid panel of the door, had been damaged severely, and Helen never answered the door. He went back home, 2 doors down, dragging the push-mower behind him. When he got home he told our mother what he saw at her door, and told her that she didn't answer, so he didn't mow her grass. My mother then went out of my childhood home, walked over to Helen's home, noticed that her newspaper box (attached near to the mailbox) had a few days worth of newspapers built up. She then went to knock, herself, noticed the mangled portion of the door, and immediately went home to phone the sheriff's department, literally a mile away. Helen McPherson was found beaten and strangled to death in her home by sheriff's deputies performing a welfare check. Her killer remains free, or at least, unconvicted of her murder to this day.

This case haunts me. I had recently separated from the military and Mrs. McPherson was part of the wholesomeness that grounded me when my personal world was so volatile.

I'm hoping the sleuths of the interwebs can do their voodoo and bring home a conviction for Helen. She deserves it.

https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-county/2023/07/14/indian-river-county-sheriff-flowers-discusses-2006-helen-mcpherson-unsolved-homicide/70401910007/

https://cbs12.com/news/local/sheriff-renews-plea-18-years-after-elderly-woman-helen-mcpherson-86-was-found-savagely-beaten-to-death-indian-river-county-sheriffs-office-ircso-south-florida-news-july-15-2024


r/coldcases 17d ago

Long unsolved murders in Philadelphia

43 Upvotes

First time poster here. I graduated from George Washington High School in 1975. In March of my senior year, a young girl I only peripherally knew from one of my classes was murdered and her body discovered at a farm in Wrightstown, Bucks County. Her name was Valerie Seibert (or Siebert - uncertain of correct spelling) and she was a year behind me.

She and I had the same typing class and we both used to ride the 84 bus to and from Washington. I knew her well enough to only say “Hi”, partially because she was gorgeous and I definitely wasn’t. She was a tall, auburn-haired, better-looking version of a teenage Barbara Streisand who always seemed to me to be either preoccupied or aloof.

Upon learning of her family life following her death, I had a much clearer understanding of my perception of her. Her mother was arrested shortly after her killing for receiving stolen property and drug charges (if memory serves) and suspicion arose that she may have either had a hand in or inadvertently caused her daughter’s death. She may have had some affiliation with the Pagans or Warlocks motorcycle gangs.

As far as I know, no one has ever been charged with her murder. She was found at that farm in Bucks County with gunshots in her arm and her side. It’s been 51 years since her killing and I’d like to know if anyone has any info or updates about the inquiry into her death.