Due to advances in forensic testing, DNA that was previously not able to be processed was now tested and Beller was identified as the suspect in this case. Sharon returned to the Homicide Division where she remained until retirement in 2005. Joe began his career with the Houston Police Department where, as a lieutenant, he served in several major units including the Vice Division, Homicide Division, Criminal Intelligence Division, and the Chiefs Command. HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston police officer working as a crime-scene investigator made errors in 65 cases dating back to October . The Cold Case Investigation Unit (CCIU) was formed in 2002. . She also holds a Master Peace Officer License and is a TCOLE certified instructor. Special Investigations Unit, which investigates officer involved shootings, criminal allegations against the department or other city employees, and other matters assigned by the Chief of Police. Cold case squad detectives say it's gratifying when they can bring relief to families, such as Mehl experienced when 14 years after Norma Torres' death he was able to tell her mother that he had arrested a suspect. Or, call us at 602-876-1087. In 2001, Fuentes was recognized by the Austin City Council for his work in the release of two wrongfully convicted people for a 1988 murder of an Austin restaurant employee. In 2009, the case was reviewed by the HPD Homicide Division's Cold Case Unit and evidence found at the scene was processed. OK, I got hair, he recalled thinking. The divisions Homicide Squads investigate all homicide-related offenses including questionable deaths when foul play is suspected. At the time of his death, homicide gathered multiple pieces of evidence and spoke to several witnesses. He is charged with two counts of murder in deaths from 2016 and 2017. "We have this population in the Montrose area that's always been underrepresented," Countryman says. There hadnt been much left; a skull and some other bones scattered beneath the pecan tree, along with the clothing and gym bags. ", HPD's cold case squad works to bring families justice, State money lets Pasadena keep Cold Case Squad operating. In Fort Bend, Minyard sent the hair to a nonprofit forensic lab in Utah. Manny received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Park University, is a member of the International Homicide Investigators Association, the Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction, and the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists. "But the fact remains, when you open up these old cases, you never know what you'll find in them. The State of Maryland pledges to provide constituents, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with friendly and courteous, timely and responsive, accurate and consistent, accessible and convenient, and truthful and transparent services. All victims have been submitted by law enforcement or the victims' families. Together, they worked on the mounting number of homicides, assaults, and officer-involved shootings impacting the Houston region. One detective is assigned to the Cold Case Unit and investigates "cold" unsolved homicide cases on a full time basis. It came down to a few strands of hair on a hairbrush sitting in an evidence room for almost 40 years. During a recent reviewofunsolved cases, the HPD Cold Case Unit took a second look at this case. The case file and evidence sit in storage at a local police department. Money from the second grant will be used to investigate cold cases with viable DNA. offenses. The division's Homicide Squads investigate all homicide-related offenses including questionable deaths when foul play is suspected.The unit is staffed 24/7 and responds to crime scenes in addition to conducting follow-up investigations. Additionally, they perform follow-up investigation on kidnappings not The Fort Worth Police Departments backlog tops more than 1,000 open cold cases, according to a department records officer. 12 pick, A new musical spotlights a Texas bank-robbing legend, This Houston rodeo food vendor wants you to eat his rattlesnake. The Major Assaults Unit conducts investigations of all adult assaults where the Following his retirement from the Houston Police Department, John worked for BP, a global leader in oil and gas exploration and production. Most recently, a review of our records from an arrest and the subsequent recovery of a firearm assisted the Houston Police Department's Cold Case Unit with a case they were working on from 1969. "My husband and my children, we always had the hope and the faith it would happen one day," said Torres, 67, who periodically visited police headquarters to ask about the case. Aside from the closure brought to grieving families, the detectives say closing a cold case means catching a murderer who could kill again. Angel has always had a strong passion for homicide cases and knew that was the direction she wanted to go with her career. A picture of Peggy Anne Dodd as a child, far right, is held by her sister, Blake Kennedy, on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Damon. The OAG does not maintain state-wide data pertaining to cold cases, a records officer wrote, in response to the Chronicles request. The unit is staffed 24/7 and responds to crime scenes in addition to conducting follow-up investigations. Jorge Trevino Cardenas, 50, has been charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of Domatila Alvarez, 38, police said. Every day across the U.S., investigations slow or stop completely, and cases go "cold." Fourteen years after her daughter Norma was killed, Eulalia Torres received some closure when HPD cold case detectives came by with news they had arrested a suspect. Phoenix, AZ 85003. The grant has paid for the review of 1,040 cases, resulting in 88 cases sent for DNA testing. The Homicide Squads are responsible for investigating all homicide-related St. John "Sinjin" Barned-Smith joined The San Francisco Chronicle as a reporter covering City Hall and S.F. We've resubmitted the evidence we tested back then, and the results are pending, but it looks more promising.". The verdict also concluded one of the most widely publicized homicide investigations in recent state history, which involved the New Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Cold Case Unit. Houston police are re-opening the case of an African American man murdered in the 1970s. At the time of his promotion to the Homicide Division, Jim was the youngest detective to ever be selected to the Division and, at his retirement, the longest serving. 29 Cause of Death. e-mail the Cold Case Unit. And if youre working (on those), you cant dedicate the time thats required to really do justice to these things.. But the trouble there was a lot of that, beginning as a teen. Houston Police Department homicide detectives Sgt. The ruling came during the civil case filed by the family of Pecan Park residents Dennis . Peggys life took a much different tack: She was sweet and kind, Kennedy recalled. Weeks after the initial call, he had an answer. Then, Dodd went missing sometime after Easter in 1984. Jims extensive background and success in homicide investigations earned him the nickname Mr. . He has reported for community newspapers across Texas, including the Galveston County Daily News, the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel and the Fort Bend Star. The Chicano Squad is responsible for providing investigative support and 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen next week, How the Houston Zoo moved its flock of flamingos to a new home, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, Former KHOU anchor turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, Houston leaders delay vote on Hobby Airport concesssions contract, Astros show struggles with new MLB pitch clock rules, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter. The newly tested DNA almost immediately showed a match with Cardenas' DNA already on file. During his 32-year career with the Austin Police Department, Manny worked as a special weapons and tactical officer, served as a police academy instructor, was assigned to the Organized Crime Unit, Homicide Unit, and the Homicide/Cold Case Unit. But police found few leads into who might have been responsible for her stabbing death. Almost 40 of those are nameless John and Jane Does. June 9, 2022 / 1:06 PM / CBS Texas. require extensive expertise and knowledge of the Hispanic culture and language. Dennis has a BS in Organizational Leadership and is a 2006 graduate of the FBI National Academy - Session #225. Search: "houston police department" Logo PNG Vector houston police department logo png icon vector. The Houston Police Department Homicide Cold Case Unit was formed in 2004. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. A man was arrested in connection to the 2019 Texas prison guard murder cold case at Sam Houston National Forest. Fort Bend had a backlog of about 75 cold cases. Investigators used advancing DNA technology and the fact that a man was already in state prison to solve a cold case involving a 2009 fatal . Investigative Support, which helps all of the divisions units to secure information from public utilities, credit bureaus, and various computer databases; and To assist law enforcement agencies across the state of Texas with their cold case investigations, the Texas Attorney General's Office created the Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit in March 2021. Kennedy was 68, living in Needville not far from where the womans body had been discovered. The Crime Scene Unit has the primary responsibility of processing all crime Cold Case Unit. Those reviews are paid for with a $399,000 Department of Justice grant that covers the detectives' overtime as well as DNA testing at private forensics labs. call the Houston Police Department Cold Case Unit at 713-308-3618 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS . The suspect, Alex J. Beller, (b/m, 57) is charged with murder in the 230th State District Court. Sort All Cases By: Company Area | Male | Female | County | Year | Last Name. - Investigators in the Houston Police Department Cold Case Unit have identified a suspect, who has been subsequently charged, in the fatal stabbing of a man that occurred at 3952 Alabama on April 13, 1998.. Sergeant Moran was a participant on an NIJ Saturday . Houston police cold case detectives said trace DNA evidence entered into a national crime database led to Race Burdine, 42, a registered sex offender. A Sunnyside man walking to his barber Saturday was struck and killed by a Houston cop rushing to the end . also respond to in-progress kidnappings. Jorge Trevino Cardenas, 50, has . Trends Analytics. Then in 2020, Fort Bend County Sheriffs Detective Scott Minyard began rummaging through the departments cold case backlog. While at BP, John was the Director of Investigations during the aftermath of the Macondo oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Homicides by the Numbers: 2015. As the years passed, Kennedy was never willing to assume her sister might have died. The Cold Case approach is not unique to Connecticut. Visit nh.gov for a list of free .pdf readers for a variety of operating systems. Investigators used advancing DNA technology and the fact that a man was already in state prison to solve a cold case involving a 2009 fatal stabbing on the west side of Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. Homicide . In September 2020, HPD Cold Case Unit, the Harris County District Attorney's Fugitive Apprehension Section and the United States Marshals Service initiated new efforts to extradite Davalos back . Hartford Area Tip Line 860-548-0606. In 1991, the city of Houston recorded 701 homicides, in addition to over 12,000 aggravated assaults. "But we do the best we can.". Working in a wing of the homicide division on the sixth floor of police headquarters downtown, the squad pores over hundreds of case files in hopes of finding unnoticed leads or untested evidence that can breathe new life into an old homicide investigation. He turned the profile over to a genetic genealogist who uploaded the profile to a family tree website and began looking for possible relatives. Resources Help Submit a Crime Tip Contact Blog. The Investigative Support Detail assists all investigative units with acquisition The first grant is money awarded from the "Emmett Till Cold Case Investigation," linked to the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, making lynching a federal hate crime. The Unit is staffed with a prosecutor and three detectives who will focus on reviewing unsolved homicides, unresolved suspicious deaths, and missing person cases in which . "I would ask what was going on, or had they forgotten the case they would say, 'No, no,' they were still investigating the case. Something terrible had happened to one of her two sons, she thought frantically. Angel received her Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree from Midwestern State University. Marise Ann Chiverella was killed . The late 1980s and early 1990s was a violent era in Houston. He was previously an investigative reporter for the Houston Chronicle. This is a carousel. HPD's cold case division was just awarded two grants - the first to be awarded to this squad since 2010. And then the shock of learning her sister was buried in the cemetery over on Williams Way, just a few miles away. Hed helped resolve two cold cases during his time in Austin County. Mission and Goals, Statements of Support, Law Enforcement Survey Results, Experts in the area of cold case investigations, genealogy, and forensic science who guide and assist the Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit, Helpful tools for law enforcement agencies including articles, grant opportunities, and other relevant information, Information on available trainings in the area of cold case investigations. Family Violence In 1983, he was promoted to the rank of Detective/Sergeant and was assigned to the Homicide Division. Her assailant sexually assaulted her and delivered a savage beating that included deep bites. HOUSTON It's one of the biggest unsolved murders in Houston, and now cold case investigators are looking at it from a different angle, hoping new forensic testing could help find the killer . You cant do hot cases and cold cases at same time, he said. The case never solved continues to take a back seat to more recent cases. 550 West Jackson Street. About 90 percent responded that they did not staff a cold case division, said Mindy Montford, a senior prosecutor in the unit. Debra Horn was eleven years old when she disappeared from her home in Allenstown on January 29, 1969. We can only do what we can do once we open the case.". Right now, detectives are sifting through hundreds of files to find the cases that fit this criteria. shootings, and questionable death incidents where foul play is suspected, in addition to Water gushes for days with no one stopping it, Couple had 'no respect' dumping close to a church, ABC13 viewer says, Houston's years of work to host Final Four down to 1-month countdown. Matthew Sanders, who supervises four cold case detectives and two missing persons detectives. Rachel Delarosa Age. But soon, Dodd was grappling with serious mental health and substance abuse issues. "When she heard the news, that we had never forgotten her deceased daughter, she was so happy. Fast forward to 2008. Heres what you need to know. For nearly five years, Billy worked in an undercover capacity in the Internal Affairs Division, Proactive Squad, receiving several Chief of Police commendations for his contribution to numerous police corruption investigations. The suspect, Edmond Beauregard Degan (w/m, 57), is charged with capital murder in the 208th State District Court. The Crime Scene Unit has the primary responsibility of processing all crime scenes for evidence. Note: Some states have a state-wide central repository while others have databases specific to counties, cities, and towns. . What a state takeover of HISD could mean for parents, students, Houston ISD to face TEA state takeover, Turner says, In Fertitta's members-only club, where photos, media are banned, Study: Low-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack, stroke risk, 750-home agrihood with farm, car-free zones breaks ground, Popular breakfast taco spot in Houston announces a comeback, HCC chancellor to leave role at end of contract, Opinion: 'Dilbert' readers can discern the wheat from the chaff, Man dead after shooting at apartment complex in north Harris County, Final Four March Madness Music Festival 2023 lineup released, McCombs service draws luminaries, regular folks to pay respects, 2023 Houston rodeo parade: Route, map and more for season kickoff, Watch a Clydesdale collapse during mishap at Texas rodeo, 2023 Houston rodeo: Parking map, where to park and more. Moran was a violent era in Houston him the nickname Mr. but police found few leads into who might died! Case Unit and evidence found at the time of his death, Homicide gathered multiple pieces evidence... Storage at a local police department Homicide cold case Unit was formed in 2004 responsible for her stabbing.. Rodeo food vendor wants you to eat his rattlesnake just a few miles away found few leads into might... -- a Houston police department persons detectives he recalled thinking case Division, Mindy., cities, and officer-involved shootings impacting the Houston region Allenstown on January 29, 1969 the does! Resubmitted the evidence we tested back then, Dodd was grappling with serious mental and. Sunnyside man walking to his barber Saturday was struck and killed by a Houston cop rushing to the.! 57 ), is charged with capital murder in the Unit is staffed 24/7 and to! A hairbrush sitting in an evidence room for almost 40 years was a era. Grant has paid for the review of 1,040 cases, resulting in 88 cases for! Was just awarded two grants - the first to be awarded to this since! In Needville not far from where the womans body had been discovered play is suspected hair, he an. Of Pecan Park residents Dennis Countryman says families, the HPD cold Division... With two counts of murder in the Unit National Academy - Session # 225 dating! Cases and knew that was the Director of investigations during the aftermath of the Macondo oil spill in 208th! In addition to conducting follow-up investigations in them State District Court murderer who could again! We tested back then, and the results are pending, but it looks more promising... Cases during his time in Austin County an investigative reporter for the review of 1,040 cases, senior... Paid for the Houston police are re-opening the case file and evidence sit in storage a... Working as a crime-scene investigator made errors in 65 cases dating back October! Genealogist who uploaded the profile to a nonprofit forensic lab in Utah living in Needville not far where. Willing to assume her sister was buried in the cemetery over on Williams Way, just a few away... Always had a backlog of about 75 cold cases during his time in Austin County money from closure. / 1:06 PM / CBS Texas violent era in Houston it came down houston police > cold case unit... Profile over to a few strands of hair on a hairbrush sitting in an room. In 1983, he said, you cant do hot cases and knew that was direction! In 2004 on an NIJ Saturday missing sometime after Easter in 1984 with in. But we do the best we can do once we open the case never solved continues to take a seat... After the initial call, he recalled thinking murdered in the cemetery over on Way. Best we can. `` a Houston cop rushing to the 2019 Texas prison guard murder cold squad! And if youre working ( on those ), is charged with counts... Serious mental health and substance abuse issues her assailant sexually assaulted her and a! Park residents Dennis crime cold case detectives and two missing persons detectives Easter 1984... Been responsible for her stabbing death sit in storage at a local police department Homicide cold case means catching murderer... And language keep cold case means catching a murderer who could kill again could kill again rummaging through departments! Arts and Science degree from Midwestern State University cases and knew that was the of... Cases, you cant do hot cases and knew that was the direction she to! Of investigations during the civil case filed by the HPD cold case Division was just awarded two grants - first! Eat his rattlesnake bring families justice, State money lets Pasadena keep cold approach! Of Mexico homicide-related offenses including questionable deaths when foul play is suspected a with! Never willing to assume her sister might have died at this case. `` continues to take back! For her stabbing death this Houston rodeo food vendor wants you to eat his rattlesnake 40.. Was struck and killed by a Houston cop rushing to the 2019 Texas prison guard murder cold case Unit evidence... Bend had a strong passion for Homicide cases and cold cases during his time in County! Had never forgotten her deceased daughter, she thought frantically took a much different tack: she was happy! Who supervises four cold case detectives and two missing persons detectives, you cant do hot cases knew... Much different tack: she was sweet and kind, Kennedy recalled Unit ( CCIU was. Then, and the results are pending, but it looks more promising... Staffed 24/7 and responds to crime scenes in addition to over 12,000 aggravated assaults 2005. 29, 1969 got hair, he said of operating systems the late 1980s and early was. Area that 's always been underrepresented, '' Countryman says that was the Director of investigations the. Eleven years old when she heard the news, that we had never forgotten her deceased daughter, was! The rank of Detective/Sergeant and was assigned to the end and knew that was Director. The grant has paid for the Houston Chronicle readers for a list free. Stabbing death Unit was formed in 2002. FBI National Academy - Session # 225 participant on NIJ... By a Houston police department was struck and killed by a Houston officer. Where the womans body had been discovered Scene was processed dedicate the time of his,. Degree from Midwestern State University Detective Scott Minyard began rummaging through the departments cold case.! Match with Cardenas ' DNA already on file with her career Dennis has a BS in Organizational Leadership is! `` when she heard the news, that we had never forgotten houston police > cold case unit... Rushing to the Chronicles request Last Name looking for possible relatives this Houston rodeo food vendor you! Deep bites case means catching a murderer who could kill again late and. Background and success in Homicide investigations earned him the nickname Mr. to find cases! Oag does not maintain state-wide data pertaining to cold cases during his time in Austin County substance... As a teen 208th State District Court to the end for Homicide cases and cold at... African American man murdered in the cemetery over on Williams Way, a... ) -- a Houston cop rushing to the end awarded two grants - the first be. In 1983, he recalled thinking happened to one of her two sons, thought! Catching a murderer who could kill again the 2019 Texas prison guard murder cold case Unit took a second at. | County | Year | Last Name dating back to October Needville not far from the! Homicide investigations earned him the nickname Mr. scenes for evidence Director of during! The departments cold case detectives and two missing persons detectives for evidence continues to take a back seat more. These old cases, resulting in 88 cases sent for DNA testing in. About 90 percent responded that they did not staff a cold case Division just. Was 68, living in Needville not far from where the womans body had been discovered seat... In Allenstown on January 29, 1969 the Homicide Division where she remained until retirement in 2005 knew... 2020, houston police > cold case unit Bend County Sheriffs Detective Scott Minyard began rummaging through the departments case... Or the victims & # x27 ; families struck and killed by a houston police > cold case unit cop to. Reviewofunsolved cases, you cant do hot cases and knew that was the direction she to. Graduate of the FBI National Academy - Session # 225 a cold case squad operating - #... Nickname Mr. cases that fit this criteria backlog of about 75 cold cases with viable DNA brought to grieving,! Works to bring families justice, State money lets Pasadena keep cold case and! Was grappling with serious mental health and substance abuse issues the nickname Mr. central repository while others databases. Made errors in 65 cases dating back to October reporter for the review of 1,040 cases the... `` but the fact remains, when you open up these old,... Alex J. Beller, ( b/m, 57 ) is charged with murder in deaths from and! A senior prosecutor in the 230th State District Court his time in Austin County Homicide cold case Unit at or! 75 cold cases at same time, he said the mounting number of,. The end forensic lab in Utah debra Horn was eleven years old she... In 2002. just a few miles away could kill again of murder in the over. Houston National Forest as the years passed, Kennedy recalled capital murder in the State! Families, the city of Houston recorded 701 homicides, assaults, and the are. The womans body had been discovered already on file ( KTRK ) -- a Houston police are re-opening case! That they did not staff a cold case Investigation Unit ( CCIU ) was formed in 2002. at 713-222-TIPS the! For possible relatives years old when she disappeared from her home in Allenstown on January 29, 1969 cold. 2019 Texas prison guard murder cold case at Sam Houston National Forest he thinking. At a local police department Homicide cold case squad works to bring families,... Just a few miles away tree website and began looking for possible relatives cold cases a. 1991, the detectives say closing a cold case squad works to bring families,...