Over 230,000 people call Boise, Idaho's capital, home. It has had its fair share of missing persons and homicides that have gone cold, much like any other city in the United States. Some of these incidents occurred as far back as the 1980s, and they continue to cause worry and anguish to those closest to the victims even today. The rates and types of severity of these cases in Boise are detailed below.

Boise Police Department (BPD) reports that the city has roughly 40 active homicide cases, some of which date back to the 1970s. About ten of these cases are considered "cold" since they have not had a lead in at least three years. Several disappearances and missing persons cases have likewise gone cold and have not been solved.

There have been about 100 homicides in Boise since 1980, or about two or three per year on average. While homicide rates have been relatively stable over the long term, they peaked in the 1990s and have since declined.

Because of the absence of tangible evidence and credible witnesses, investigating cold cases is notoriously difficult. Several of these crimes occurred in the '80s and '90s, when DNA testing and other modern forensic methods were not yet in use. The inability to locate and question eyewitnesses is compounded by the fact that some incidents may have included people who have passed away or relocated.

The absence of funds set aside to investigate cold cases is another obstacle. Because to manpower and resource constraints, the BPD frequently delegates cold case investigations to detectives who are already working on ongoing cases. A result of this is that it might be challenging for detectives to give cold cases the attention they need.

The BPD has overcome obstacles and made headway in solving cold cases in the city. For the past few years, the agency has established a special unit to examine and reexamine cold cases. In certain instances, investigators have been able to make significant headway thanks to new leads or technological advancements, resulting in arrests and convictions.

Still, a lot of progress has been made. Several families are still searching for answers concerning loved ones who went missing in the 1980s and 1990s as of 2021. The BPD has asked members of the public to come forward with any leads they may have on these crimes in order to help solve them. The agency has also made public pleas for help on social media and other channels, asking for anyone with information to come forward.

The BPD isn't the only group trying to shed light on cold cases and provide solace to bereaved families; there are also various nonprofits doing this work. The Idaho Missing People Clearinghouse, for instance, maintains a database of missing Idahoans and aids families and law enforcement in their search for them.

In sum, unsolved incidents of homicide and disappearance are still a major issue in Boise. The BPD and other groups have worked hard, yet many cases from the 1980s and 1990s remain unresolved. The community as a whole feels the effects of the lack of resolution for the families and loved ones of the victims. Even if there has been some improvement in the last few years, more time and energy are still required to solve these cases and bring individuals who have suffered justice.

Many tools exist in Boise, Idaho, to aid in the resolution of cold cases:

The Idaho State Police (ISP) aids local Idaho law enforcement agencies with their investigations. Unsolved murder and disappearance cases are investigated by a special Cold Case Unit.

The Ada County Sheriff's Office conducts criminal investigations, especially those involving cold cases, and provides assistance to other law enforcement organizations. Crime Stoppers is a service that allows anyone to anonymously disclose information that could lead to the arrest of a criminal.

The Boise Police Department is responsible for investigating all criminal activity that occurs inside Boise municipal borders, including cold cases. To combat crime, they collaborate closely with the ISP and other authorities.

The non-profit Idaho Cold Cases aims to educate the public about Idaho's unsolved crimes. In addition to a database of cold cases, they provide counseling services for victims' loved ones.

NamUs is a national database that stores information about missing and unidentified people around the country. In an effort to identify unidentified remains and close cold cases, law enforcement authorities can use this database to match DNA and other information.

Many tools exist in Boise, Idaho, to aid in the resolution of cold cases:

The Idaho State Police (ISP) aids local Idaho law enforcement agencies with their investigations. Unsolved murder and disappearance cases are investigated by a special Cold Case Unit.

The Ada County Sheriff's Office conducts criminal investigations, especially those involving cold cases, and provides assistance to other law enforcement organizations. Crime Stoppers is a service that allows anyone to anonymously disclose information that could lead to the arrest of a criminal.

The Boise Police Department is responsible for investigating all criminal activity that occurs inside Boise municipal borders, including cold cases. To combat crime, they collaborate closely with the ISP and other authorities.

The non-profit Idaho Cold Cases aims to educate the public about Idaho's unsolved crimes. In addition to a database of cold cases, they provide counseling services for victims' loved ones.

NamUs is a national database that stores information about missing and unidentified people around the country. In an effort to identify unidentified remains and close cold cases, law enforcement authorities can use this database to match DNA and other information.

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