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San Antonio Cold Cases

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San Antonio, Texas Cold Cases

There has been a lengthy history of unsolved murder and disappearance cases in San Antonio, Texas. The San Antonio Police Department reports that there are now more than 2,000 cold cases and other unresolved crimes in the city. Those who have vanished without a trace and those whose murders have gone unsolved also fall into this category.

There is a particular section of the San Antonio Police Department that looks into cold cases. Detectives with years of expertise and specialized training in cold case investigations man the Cold Case Unit. The major objective of the team is to investigate all of the collected evidence and come up with fresh leads.

The lack of new evidence is a major obstacle to solving cold cases. In many of these situations, no new information has surfaced in years, if not decades. But, cutting-edge forensic equipment is put to use by the Cold Case Squad in order to reexamine previously collected material and identify any new leads in these cases. The unit has been able to make headway on some of these cases thanks to developments in DNA analysis and other forensic procedures.

In addition to cooperating with the Texas Rangers and the FBI, the department also shares information and resources with other law enforcement organizations. By working together, we can be confident that every available tool is being used to deliver justice for the victims.

The San Antonio Police Department understands the value of community outreach in solving cold cases. The agency routinely holds events and collaborates with the media to raise awareness about cold cases and solicit leads from locals. There are prizes available from the department if a tip leads to an arrest and conviction in one of these cases.

Famous cold cases in San Antonio

There is a rising backlog of cases that have not yet been assigned to the Cold Case Squad, which adds to the difficulties of solving cold cases. The San Antonio Cold Case Unit has not yet reviewed nearly 300 cold cases, according to a report by the San Antonio Express-News. In order to ensure that all cases are being adequately investigated, this backlog highlights the need for extra resources to be assigned to the unit.

There is often no resolution for the victims' families in these cases. In addition to serving justice, the San Antonio Police Department hopes that solving these crimes would allow the victims' loved ones to finally rest in peace. Some of these cases have seen advancement, but the department still has a long way to go.

The San Antonio Police Department has a special unit called the Cold Case Squad that looks into missing and homicide cases that have gone cold. In order to identify suspects and solve cold cases, the team employs cutting-edge forensic technology, collaborates closely with other law enforcement organizations, and forges ties within the community. Although there are many obstacles to resolving cold cases, the agency is dedicated to doing so in order to bring justice to the victims and peace of mind to their loved ones.

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 San Antonio Police Department (SAPD)'s strategy for investigating unsolved cases?

For cold cases, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) has a specialized section known as the Cold Case Squad. Detectives assigned to the Cold Case Squad have received specialized training in the investigation of cold cases.

Among the several tactics used by the SAPD's Cold Case Squad in their pursuit of cold cases are:

The team conducts a thorough assessment of the case and analyzes all of the information and evidence at their disposal, including forensic evidence, witness statements, and earlier investigation reports.

In order to acquire more information and look for contradictions in their testimonies, detectives will reinterview witnesses and prospective suspects.

In order to see if forensic evidence, such as a DNA sample, matches any current databases or can be re-analyzed with updated techniques, investigators will frequently re-examine it.

Working with the FBI or the Texas Rangers, for example, might provide the Cold Case Squad with access to even more resources and expertise in the criminal justice system.

The Cold Case Squad may use media sources and social media to reach out to the public and ask for any fresh information they may have about the case.

Create fresh leads: Investigators will try to generate new leads by reevaluating existing evidence, interviewing potential witnesses, and following up on tips and leads that may have been missed during the first investigation.

The SAPD's strategy for solving cold cases is all-encompassing and methodical, use every tool at its disposal to find fresh leads and finally solve the case.

What resources are available to help solve cold cases?

In San Antonio, Texas, you can use a variety of tools to investigate and potentially solve cold cases:

The San Antonio Police Department has a special unit dedicated to solving cold cases including homicides and disappearances. By collaboration with other organizations and the use of forensic technology, they evaluate evidence and find fresh leads.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office is responsible for conducting investigations into deaths and providing forensic services to local law enforcement. They are useful for solving cold cases since they can identify victims and give evidence.

The San Antonio Crime Stoppers program provides cash rewards for information leading to an arrest in unsolved crimes. The program is managed by a non-profit that collaborates with local authorities to investigate and solve cases.

The Texas Rangers are a state-level law enforcement body that aids local authorities in conducting investigations, notably those with cold cases. San Antonio is home to one of their regional offices.

Private Investigators: San Antonio is home to a number of reputable private investigation organizations, many of which focus on solving cold cases. Families of victims or law enforcement can hire such companies for forensic assistance.

Major cities surrounding San Antonio, Texas

Austin, Texas
Houston, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Laredo, Texas

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Top San Antonio Cold Cases