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Charlotte, North Carolina Cold Cases

The North Carolina city of Charlotte has seen its fair share of cold cases. Several cases have been closed, however there are still those that haven't been solved.

Several people have gone missing and many murders have gone unsolved in the Charlotte region since 1980. The Cold Case Unit of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is in charge of looking into unsolved crimes in the area.

Around two hundred cold cases are still open in Charlotte, according to the CMPD. Among these are homicides, disappearances, and incidents of unknown human remains. Victims of color, particularly African Americans and Latinxs, predominate in these incidents.

Lack of tangible evidence and the passage of time might be obstacles in the investigation of cold cases. It's possible that crucial witnesses have relocated or passed away, that crucial evidence has been lost or destroyed, and that crucial memories have faded. The CMPD Cold Case Unit, however, is dedicated to solving these mysteries and giving peace to the families involved.

When looking into cold cases, the CMPD's Cold Case Section employs several methods. The testimony of witnesses, forensic evidence, and photographs of the crime scene are all examples of evidence that should be reviewed. They also conduct follow-up interviews with witnesses and family members to glean any fresh details.

Using cutting-edge technology to reexamine previously gathered material is also crucial to the probe. DNA testing, for instance, has become an essential method for cracking unsolved crimes. In order to evaluate DNA evidence and compare it to a national database, the CMPD's Cold Case Unit collaborates closely with forensic specialists.

The CMPD also conducts outreach to the general public in order to find fresh leads in cold cases. They notify the public about cold cases using media like social media and news releases in the hopes that someone would recognize a connection and come forward with information.

Famous cold cases in Charlotte

The cold case unit of the CMPD solved the murder of Shannon Melendi, who went missing in 1992. The body of Melendi, a 19-year-old college student, was discovered in her Charlotte apartment. The case went cold for nearly 25 years until DNA evidence was used by the CMPD's Cold Case Unit to solve it. The culprit in Melendi's murder was apprehended and charged in 2018.

There are still many unsolved crimes in Charlotte, and this is only one example of a successful investigation. Most notably, in 2000, 9-year-old Asha Degree went missing, in 2011, 17-year-old Erica Parsons was murdered, and in 2014, 34-year-old LaWanda Wallace was killed.

The CMPD's Cold Case Section is dedicated to solving cold crimes and delivering closure to victims' families, despite the difficulties of doing so. They are still using cutting-edge tools and methods of investigation to reexamine evidence and find fresh leads. They also closely collaborate with relatives of victims of missing persons and murder to offer assistance and resources.

It's safe to say that Charlotte's history has more than its fair share of unsolved mysteries. Several mysteries have been answered, but there are still plenty that haven't been. The CMPD's Cold Case Unit is committed to solving these mysteries so that victims' families can rest in peace. They are making headway in solving these crimes and bringing justice to the victims and their families by utilizing modern technologies and reaching out to the public.

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 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD)'s strategy for investigating unsolved cases?

Cold cases in the Charlotte area are investigated by the Cold Case Unit of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). Expert detectives who focus on evaluating and investigating cold cases make up the unit's workforce.

When looking into cold cases, the CMPD's Cold Case Unit employs a number of methods, including:

The Cold Case Unit's principal strategy is a thorough examination of any and all relevant evidence, such as witness accounts, forensic evidence, and photographs of the crime scene. They also conduct follow-up interviews with witnesses and family members to glean any fresh details.

The Cold Case Unit of the CMPD uses cutting-edge technology to evaluate DNA evidence in tandem with forensic specialists and check it against a national database. Facial recognition software is only one example of the cutting-edge technology used to try to place unidentified criminals.

The Cold Case Unit of the CMPD relies on public outreach to find fresh leads in unsolved cases. They notify the public about cold cases using media like social media and news releases in the hopes that someone would recognize a connection and come forward with information.

Collaboration with other departments: The CMPD's Cold Case Unit regularly exchanges data and resources with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

The Cold Case Unit of the CMPD investigates cold cases to see if there are any links to other cases. To do this, they employ a number of methods, such as offender profiling and examination of crime scenes.

The Cold Case Unit of the CMPD is dedicated to solving cold cases and resolving the concerns of victims' loved ones. They are making headway in solving these crimes and bringing justice to the victims and their families via the use of cutting-edge technology, public outreach, and collaboration with other agencies.

What resources are available to help solve cold cases?

In Charlotte, North Carolina, there are many resources available to investigate and potentially solve cold cases.

For unresolved murder and disappearance cases, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) operates a cold case unit. Along with the locals, they use cutting-edge equipment and forensic methods to solve crimes.

The local police forces in North Carolina can rely on the help of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Expert investigators and forensic scientists are at their disposal, so they can help with things like DNA testing, fingerprint analysis, and ballistics testing.

In an effort to solve cold cases, the nonprofit Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Crimestoppers pays out incentives to anybody who provide information that leads to an arrest. An anonymous hotline, website, or mobile app is available for reporting suspicious activity.

Assistance for law enforcement and families of missing children is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a non-profit organization. Their forensics team includes specialists that can help with things like determining how much time has passed, recreating a person's face, and analyzing their dental history.

The local history and genealogy section of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library can help people looking into cold cases from the area. They have a library full of old newspapers, city directories, and other documents that could help with research.

Major cities surrounding Charlotte, North Carolina

Gastonia, North Carolina
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Concord, North Carolina
Huntersville, North Carolina
Mooresville, North Carolina

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