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Green Bay Cold Cases

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Green Bay, Wisconsin Cold Cases

Many people have been reported missing or slain in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the earliest of these incidents dates back to the 1980s. Around twenty active cases involving missing people have been reported in Green Bay through the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). The families of the victims will never get the answers they need or the justice they deserve as long as these cases remain unsolved.

Time is a major obstacle in the investigation of cold cases. Evidence deteriorates, memories fade, and witnesses may relocate or pass away over time. Physical evidence may be lacking, mistreated, or lost in some cases, making them even more challenging to investigate.

Notwithstanding these obstacles, Green Bay's law enforcement authorities are committed to investigating these crimes and bringing those responsible to justice. Cold case investigators or units are specialized sections within some police departments. In their efforts to solve these cases, these detectives work relentlessly to reexamine old evidence, reinterview witnesses, and pursue fresh leads.

Justice is sought not only by law enforcement, but also by the loved ones of those who have gone missing or been murdered. They may hire private detectives, look into the cases themselves, or try to get the word out in order to get more information. Families may even offer rewards for information that helps solve the crime.

In recent years, technology has also played a crucial role in the resolution of cold cases. DNA testing and genealogy studies have allowed for the solution of many cold cases. Genetic evidence found at a crime scene could be retested with updated lab equipment, or new leads could be uncovered through genetic genealogy studies.

Several cold cases in Green Bay and across the country have not been solved despite these developments. Families of those who have gone missing or been killed keep looking for answers in the hopes that someday their loved ones may be recognized and justice served.

Famous cold cases in Green Bay

The murder of Berit Beck, which occurred in Green Bay in 1999, is an example of a cold case that was solved. Beck, a young man of only eighteen years, vanished en route to a business seminar in Appleton, Wisconsin. Six weeks after her van was discovered in a parking lot in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, her body was located in a ditch in Waupun.

Although the situation was investigated thoroughly at the time, no resolution was ever found. In 2019, a suspect was identified by re-testing DNA evidence from the crime site with updated technology. The suspect, who was residing in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at the time of the crime, was arrested and charged with Beck's murder. This resolution provided closure for Beck's family and highlighted the significance of persistent attempts to solve cold cases.

As a result, there are still ongoing and unresolved incidents of people going missing or being murdered in Green Bay, Wisconsin that date back to the 1980s. Every possible effort is being made to find new clues and information in these instances by law enforcement, families, and loved ones. While technological advancements have been important in solving certain instances, many more continue to go unsolved, depriving victims' families of the closure they need and the justice they deserve. Closure for families isn't the only benefit of solving cold cases; it also aids in victim accountability and justice delivery.

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 Green Bay Police Department (GBPD)'s strategy for investigating unsolved cases?

Unsolved murder and disappearance cases are investigated by the Green Bay Police Department's Cold Case Unit in Wisconsin. All of the investigators in this team have extensive expertise and education in solving cold cases.

When looking into cold cases, the Green Bay Police Department's Cold Case Unit employs a number of techniques. One of the key strategies is to examine all pieces of evidence, from physical objects to witness accounts to written records. The team also seeks to track down potential witnesses and develop fresh leads in the investigation.

The Cold Case Unit works with the Wisconsin Department of Justice and other local law enforcement agencies to share data and pool resources. Evidence is analyzed and leads are developed in close collaboration with the Brown County Medical Examiner's Office and the Wisconsin Crime Lab.

The Cold Case Unit of the Green Bay Police Department regularly interacts with the public to find fresh leads and information on cold cases. The public is encouraged to contact the unit via a special tip line in order to provide leads in cold cases. The team also makes use of digital channels like social media and online forums to raise awareness about cold cases and solicit tips from the public.

The Green Bay Police Department's Cold Case Unit uses cutting-edge forensic technology in addition to more conventional methods of investigation. The team may conduct forensic testing, such as DNA analysis, to help identify suspects or establish a connection between a piece of physical evidence and a specific person.

The Green Bay Police Department's Cold Case Unit uses a wide variety of techniques to uncover the truth behind cold cases. The team is able to develop fresh leads and make headway on cases that have been unsolved for years by combining traditional investigative tactics with modern forensic technologies and community involvement strategies. The Green Bay Police Department is dedicated to finally resolving cold cases so that victims' loved ones can finally rest in peace.

What resources are available to help solve cold cases?

Green Bay, Wisconsin, has a number of options available to the public to help with solving cold cases. For example:

The Brown County Sheriff's Office conducts criminal investigations and has a special team devoted to revisiting cold cases.

The Green Bay Police Department not only responds to emergency calls, but also conducts criminal investigations and has a Cold Case Section that looks into cold cases.

The Division of Criminal Investigation at the Wisconsin Department of Justice is available to provide assistance to local law enforcement agencies and investigate cold cases.

Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit organization that encourages people to anonymously report information about criminal activity, including unsolved cases. Rewards are offered for information leading to an arrest by the group.

DNA testing: DNA testing technology advancements have helped law enforcement agencies identify suspects in cold cases.

The field of forensic anthropology focuses on the study of human remains with the goal of solving unsolved crimes by using methods like facial reconstruction and bone analysis to establish the identities of victims and suspects.

Families or law enforcement organizations may retain the services of private investigators to look into unsolved crimes and other matters that have lain dormant for some time.

Green Bay, Wisconsin has a wealth of law enforcement agencies, forensic professionals, and charitable organizations dedicated to solving cold cases.

Major cities surrounding Green Bay, Wisconsin

Appleton, Wisconsin
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
De Pere, Wisconsin
Neenah, Wisconsin

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