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New Brunswick Cold Cases

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New Brunswick, New Jersey Cold Cases

New Brunswick, New Jersey is no exception to the nationwide trend of law enforcement organizations struggling to solve cold cases. There have been numerous unsolved cases of missing people and murder in the city since 1980.

As of March 2023, 83 cold cases originating in New Brunswick have been recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified People System (NamUs). Of those, there are 29 cases of missing people and 54 cases of murder. There are people of various ages, both sexes, and different ethnicities involved in these cases, and many of them have been unsolved for decades.

When crimes have been unsolved for a long period of time, law enforcement faces a particularly difficult challenge. Some progress has been made, though, thanks to developments in technology and new investigation methods.

The absence of physical evidence or witnesses is a common barrier to solving cold cases. Since many of these instances were first investigated decades ago, progress may be slow if no new evidence or technology has emerged since then. The New Brunswick Police have come up with a number of plans to deal with these issues.

One tactic is to re-interview previous interviewees, such as family members and witnesses, to determine whether they have any new information or if their memories have altered. Some potential witnesses may feel more at ease talking to police now than they did in the past.

New forensic techniques, such as DNA analysis, can also be used to reexamine evidence from crime scenes. Many of these cases may have benefited from the availability of technology that did not exist when they were first studied.

To better exchange information and resources, the New Brunswick Police Department has partnered with other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. Some previously unsolved cases in New Brunswick and elsewhere have been solved thanks to this partnership.

Famous cold cases in New Brunswick

Law enforcement agencies have not been able to solve all of these instances, which has left many people in need of closure. Families of missing individuals and homicide victims in New Brunswick have the support and resources of the police department, which works tirelessly to bring public attention to their cases.

Law enforcement organizations frequently utilize internet communities like social media in order to bring attention to cold cases and find fresh leads. The New Brunswick Police Department uses social media to update the public on cold cases and solicit leads from members of the public.

The New Brunswick Police Department is making a concerted effort to track down and apprehend those responsible for decades-old crimes. They have a special team to look into murders and disappearances that have not been solved. It is the department's policy to provide its officers with training in cold case investigative techniques.

In sum, law enforcement organizations in New Brunswick and elsewhere in the country continue to face difficulties with cold cases. There is, however, reason to believe that more crimes can and will be solved with the help of the community, the application of cutting-edge technology, and the commitment of law enforcement officials.

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 New Brunswick Police Department (NBPD)'s strategy for investigating unsolved cases?

Unsolved homicide and missing person cases are investigated by the New Brunswick Police Department's Cold Case Unit. The department has a multi-pronged approach to solving cold cases:

In order to determine whether any fresh leads or evidence were missed during the initial investigation, the Cold Case Unit goes through all of the case files, evidence, and witness statements.

The team reinterviews potential witnesses, relatives, and others with knowledge of the case to discover whether their memories have altered or if they have any new information.

In order to reexamine evidence and find fresh leads, the team employs cutting-edge forensic technology and DNA analysis.

The Cold Case Unit collaborates with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to share information and resources.

The unit uses several platforms to reach out to the public in the hopes that someone may recognize the case and come forward with information.

The New Brunswick Police Department is home to both a Cold Case Section and a Missing People Unit. Like the Cold Case Unit, the Missing People Unit looks through historical evidence and interviews old and new witnesses to find new leads in cold cases.

The New Brunswick Police Department employs cutting-edge forensic technology, works with other organizations and the public, and reaches out to the general public in an effort to solve cold cases and find fresh leads. To guarantee that its personnel are equipped to conduct cold case investigations, the agency also provides training in this area. As a whole, the New Brunswick Police Department is dedicated to solving cold cases and delivering justice and peace of mind to victims and their loved ones.

What resources are available to help solve cold cases?

In New Brunswick, New Jersey, you can use a variety of tools to investigate and potentially solve cold cases:

Unsolved homicide and missing person cases are investigated by the New Brunswick Police Department's Cold Case Unit. The team's mission is to find fresh leads, reexamine existing evidence, and apply cutting-edge forensic science to crack cases.

NamUs is a national database that aids law enforcement in their efforts to identify and find missing persons and unidentified remains. Information about missing persons, unidentified remains, and unresolved cases can be accessed by the general public through this database.

The Missing People Unit of the New Jersey State Police is dedicated to finding those who have gone missing and bringing them home to their loved ones. Along with police enforcement, they look into cases of missing people.

The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collaborates with local law enforcement to solve violent and cold case crimes. The BAU's specialized knowledge in forensics, victimology, and criminal psychology aids in the identification of suspects and the resolution of crimes.

The public can anonymously give tips to law enforcement through Crime Stoppers, a non-profit organization. Tips leading to an arrest or conviction are eligible for rewards from the organization.

There is a Cold Case Unit at the New Jersey Attorney General's Office that coordinates with local police to look into cold cases of murder and disappearance. Cases can get some extra help from the unit in the form of investigative tools, forensic analysis, and other services.

These materials can be of great use to New Brunswick law enforcement organizations looking into cold cases, as they can be used to find new leads and identify potential suspects.

Major cities surrounding New Brunswick, New Jersey

Edison, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
New York, New York

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