What is a cold case?
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department considers any unsolved homicide that is over one year old, and without any viable leads, to be a cold case. The cold case is then re-assigned to the Cold Case Homicide Unit. To reach this point, the Police Department continuously evaluates each homicide through a rigorous formal review process. The review process includes, but is not limited to, ongoing direct supervisory case management, bi-monthly investigative status reporting, discussions at a department wide monthly Homicide Summit, and formal case reviews by the Cold Case Homicide Unit at the six and twelve month marks of the investigation.
All homicides will remain open investigations and will never be closed until they are solved, although some investigations may remain more active than others. All homicides are reviewed and investigated as new information or evidence becomes available. Periodic reviews of cold cases are also conducted to determine if additional leads or evidence could be further developed and pursued.
Does a cold case mean there are no leads or suspects?
Not necessarily, however there are many factors that are involved in building a case that can be successfully taken to the District Attorney’s office to be prosecuted.
What are the most common reasons that a case goes cold?
Cases can go cold for a variety of reasons…
How do cold cases get solved?
Cold cases can be solved through new information brought forward or discovered during the investigation and evaluating evidence with new technologies.
How can I help?
Contact us:
Anyone with information about a homicide is urged to come forward. You may choose to be anonymous in any of the following contact methods:
Office: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Headquarters
600 Murfreesboro Pike
P.O. Box 196399
Nashville, TN 37219-6399
Cold Case Homicide: 615-862-7329
E-mail: “MNPDcoldcase@nashville.gov”>MNPDcoldcase@nashville.gov
Crime Stoppers: Crime Stoppers offers rewards for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of suspects.
Contact: “http://www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com
Call: 74-CRIME (“”>)
Download: free mobile app at P3TIPS.com
Participate in “https://www.nashville.gov/Police-Department/Community-Programs.aspx” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Community Programs.
Explore “https://www.nashville.gov/Police-Department/Safety-Information.aspx” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Safety Information
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