Facebook Pixel

Baton Rouge Cold Cases

Stay on top of all things cold cases, advocacy, and true crime with our twice per week newsletter

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Cold Cases

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has seen its fair share of murders and disappearances, with many of the cases becoming cold. Around a hundred missing person and homicide cases have been reported in Baton Rouge since the 1980s, according to the National Missing and Unidentified People System (NamUs). For law enforcement and the loved ones of the victims, these instances constitute a formidable obstacle.

The length of time that has gone since the crime has been one of the biggest obstacles to solving cold cases. There's a chance that witnesses and evidence are hard to find or have degraded over time, complicating matters. Notwithstanding the obstacles, Baton Rouge's law enforcement is dedicated to solving cold cases and prosecuting those involved.

Baton Rouge police, for example, sometimes reexamine evidence by using modern forensic science. DNA testing, fingerprint analysis, and other forensic methods can be used to verify previously untested evidence. Evidence reexamined with cutting-edge forensic methods has produced new leads in some cases.

Baton Rouge law enforcement officials also conduct follow-up interviews with previously interviewed witnesses, victims' loved ones, and suspects. Witnesses and suspects may have moved away, changed their names, or even passed away throughout the course of an investigation. By re-interviewing them, detectives may learn new details or discover fresh leads.

Baton Rouge police departments also make use of forensic databases and cutting-edge technology to track down leads and apprehend criminals. For instance, the DNA evidence from cold cases can be matched to DNA profiles from convicted criminals, crime scenes, and unidentified remains stored at the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory.

Famous cold cases in Baton Rouge

The participation of the local community is also crucial in solving cold cases. Baton Rouge's law enforcement collaborates with local groups and campaigners to spread the word about missing and murdered people and solicit tips from the public. Tips from the general public have helped solve certain cold cases.

Information about missing persons and unidentified remains cases in Louisiana can be found on a website maintained by the Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults. The public can access case details and provide police with tips and leads through this website.

Finally, the problem of missing and murdered people in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, presents a serious challenge to local authorities and the public. It is a priority for law enforcement to resolve cold cases and bring closure to victims' families. Yet to solve this problem, authorities, advocates, and the public must work together to educate the public, offer aid, and apprehend the perpetrators.

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 Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD)'s strategy for investigating unsolved cases?

When looking into cold cases, BRPD may employ a number of possible methods, such as:

Finding fresh information or leads by going over case files, evidence, and witness statements from the first investigation.

The process of re-interviewing suspects, victims, and witnesses to glean new information and spot discrepancies in their stories.

Making use of computers and forensics databases to track down leads and identify suspects. DNA testing, fingerprint comparison, and other forensic methods could be used.

Using incentives, collaborating with the media, and social media to solicit participation and collect data from the public.

Sharing knowledge and resources with other law enforcement organizations including the FBI and local prosecutors.

Having seasoned investigators look into cold cases on a regular basis in the hopes of finding fresh leads.

Making use of the expertise of dedicated teams like the cold case squad, which is made up of investigators with specialized experience and education in solving cold cases.

It's crucial to keep in mind that the specifics of each cold case may necessitate a different approach from law enforcement. Based on its past experience with cold cases, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana Police Department may have also created its own unique approach.

What resources are available to help solve cold cases?

In order to help solve cold cases in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, there are a number of options accessible. For example:

The crime lab run by the Louisiana State Police offers forensic services such as DNA analysis, ballistics analysis, and fingerprint analysis to local law enforcement agencies in the state of Louisiana.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office maintains a special unit devoted to investigating cold cases, such as those involving unsolved murders, missing persons, or unidentified bodies.

Clearinghouse for Missing People in Louisiana; a service for grieving families and law enforcement. Help with investigations, posters for missing people, and details about the National Missing and Unidentified People System are all available here (NamUs).

Crime Stoppers of Greater Baton Rouge is a nonprofit organization that pays cash prizes for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in criminal cases. The identity of those providing tips will be kept confidential.

The Cold Case Unit of the Baton Rouge Police Department is responsible for reopening and reinvestigating cold cases of homicide and disappearance. In order to gather information and solve cases, the unit collaborates with other law enforcement authorities and the public.

These are but a handful of the many tools at Baton Rouge's disposal for investigating and solving cold cases.

Major cities surrounding Baton Rouge, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Houston, Texas
Jackson, Mississippi
Mobile, Alabama

Get Your Free Step-By-Step Citizen Detective Guide

Get Your Free Step-By-Step Citizen Detective Guide

Top Baton Rouge Cold Cases