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Lubbock Cold Cases

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Lubbock, Texas Cold Cases

There have been unsolved cases of homicide and disappearance in the Lubbock, Texas area since at least 1980. There are now over a hundred cold cases in Lubbock, according to the Lubbock Police Department. Those who have vanished without a trace and those whose murders have gone unsolved also fall into this category.

There is a particular section of the Lubbock Police Department that looks into cold cases. Detectives with extensive expertise and specialized training in this area staff the team. The major objective of the team is to investigate all of the collected evidence and come up with fresh leads.

The lack of new evidence is a major obstacle to solving cold cases. In many of these situations, no new information has surfaced in years, if not decades. But, cutting-edge forensic equipment is put to use by the Cold Case Squad in order to reexamine previously collected material and identify any new leads in these cases. The unit has been able to make headway on some of these cases thanks to developments in DNA analysis and other forensic procedures.

In addition to cooperating with the Texas Rangers and the FBI, the department also shares information and resources with other law enforcement organizations. By working together, we can be confident that every available tool is being used to deliver justice for the victims.

The Lubbock Police Department understands the value of community connections in solving cold cases. The agency routinely holds events and collaborates with the media to raise awareness about cold cases and solicit leads from locals. There are prizes available from the department if a tip leads to an arrest and conviction in one of these cases.

Famous cold cases in Lubbock

There is a rising backlog of cases that have not yet been assigned to the Cold Case Squad, which adds to the difficulties of solving cold cases. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports that the city's Cold Case Team has yet to investigate more than 40 cold cases of homicide. In order to ensure that all cases are being adequately investigated, this backlog highlights the need for extra resources to be assigned to the unit.

There is often no resolution for the victims' families in these cases. In addition to serving justice, the Lubbock Police Department hopes that solving these crimes would allow the victims' loved ones to finally rest in peace. Some of these cases have seen advancement, but the department still has a long way to go.

Finally, the Cold Case Team of the Lubbock Police Department is committed to solving the city's unresolved missing person and homicide investigations. In order to identify suspects and solve cold cases, the team employs cutting-edge forensic technology, collaborates closely with other law enforcement organizations, and forges ties within the community. Although there are many obstacles to resolving cold cases, the agency is dedicated to doing so in order to bring justice to the victims and peace of mind to their loved ones.

Joseph Smedley
Joseph SmedleySuspicious Death, 2015
Asha Degree
Asha DegreeMissing, 2000

Consider this

More than 200,000 unsolved cases have gone cold since 1980, and murder clearance rates continue to drop. With equity for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underserved victims not prioritized in the true crime community—together we can do better.

What is Lubbock Police Department (LPD)'s strategy for investigating unsolved cases?

Cold case investigations are handled by the Cold Case Squad of the Lubbock Police Department (LPD). The investigators that make up the Cold Case Team have years of expertise investigating and analyzing crime scenes.

The LPD takes numerous measures to uncover the truth behind cold cases, such as:

The team conducts a thorough assessment of the case and analyzes all of the information and evidence at their disposal, including forensic evidence, witness statements, and earlier investigation reports.

In order to acquire more information and look for contradictions in their testimonies, detectives will reinterview witnesses and prospective suspects.

In order to see if forensic evidence, such as a DNA sample, matches any current databases or can be re-analyzed with updated techniques, investigators will frequently re-examine it.

Working with the FBI or the Texas Rangers, for example, might provide the Cold Case Squad with access to even more resources and expertise in the criminal justice system.

The Cold Case Squad may use media sources and social media to reach out to the public and ask for any fresh information they may have about the case.

Create fresh leads: Investigators will try to generate new leads by reevaluating existing evidence, interviewing potential witnesses, and following up on tips and leads that may have been missed during the first investigation.

The Lubbock Police Department's strategy for solving cold cases is all-encompassing and methodical, use every tool at its disposal to find fresh leads and finally solve the case.

What resources are available to help solve cold cases?

Many tools exist in Lubbock, Texas, to aid in the investigation of unsolved crimes. For example:

The Cold Case Unit of the Lubbock Police Department is responsible for investigating cold cases that have previously gone unsolved. In order to solve cold cases, they collaborate with other law enforcement organizations and employ cutting-edge investigative tactics.

The Texas Rangers is a state-level police unit that aids its constituent law enforcement departments with investigations. A special department exists for solving unsolved mysteries.

Lubbock Crime Stoppers is a non-profit that allows people to report crime information anonymously. They collaborate closely with law enforcement and offer financial incentives in exchange for information that leads to an arrest.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Lubbock Police Department have teamed together to use Genetic evidence to crack cold cases. This method can be used to establish a connection between a criminal act and a suspect.

Media coverage: News outlets, both online and off, frequently report on cold cases in an effort to attract fresh leads and maintain public interest. The process of doing so can provide clues and data that could lead to a solution.

In sum, the city of Lubbock, Texas, has access to a number of tools that can be used to investigate cold cases. Together, these tools can let victims and their loved ones to rest in peace.

Major cities surrounding Lubbock, Texas

Amarillo, Texas
Midland, Texas
Odessa, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas

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