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Burlington Cold Cases

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Burlington, Vermont Cold Cases

Despite its reputation for natural beauty and cultural vitality, Burlington, Vermont, has had its fair share of unsolved incidents of murder and disappearance. These mysteries, known as "cold cases," have lingered for a long time without being solved, leaving victims' families and communities with unanswered concerns.

The Vermont State Police report that there are 27 cold cases of murder or disappearance in Vermont, some of which date back to the 1970s. Burlington is in Chittenden County, which has the lion's share of these incidents.

Unsolved crimes are the focus of the Cold Case Unit at the Burlington Police Department. Members of the unit have extensive backgrounds in law enforcement and have received specialized training to examine cold cases. The major objective of the team is to investigate all of the collected evidence and come up with fresh leads.

The department's strategy often involves a thorough review of all the evidence gathered at the scene of the incident. Examining physical evidence like DNA and fingerprints is a part of this process. The agency can now reexamine previous evidence, which may lead to fresh leads in certain cases, thanks to advancements in forensic technology.

When it comes to solving cold cases, the agency also collaborates closely with other law enforcement agencies like the Vermont State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. By working together, we can be confident that every available tool is being used to deliver justice for the victims.

The Burlington Police Department understands the value of community partnerships 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.

The department also makes use of the material gathered at the scene of the incident, including testimonies from witnesses and anything else that might have been missed. The department plans to reexamine all of the evidence in an effort to find fresh leads and finally close long-standing cold cases.

Famous cold cases in Burlington

The division also provides support to the victims' loved ones. The agency understands the necessity of delivering as much information as possible to the families who are often left without answers or closure. The department's goal in engaging the families is to generate fresh leads and finally close long-cold cases.

The Burlington Police Department use these methods and more, including the use of technology, to close cold cases. In order to evaluate data and find possible criminals, the agency uses cutting-edge computer programs. The department's toughest cold cases have been cracked in part thanks to this technology.

The Burlington Police Department is dedicated to bringing justice to the victims and peace to their families, even if doing so can be difficult when dealing with cold cases. The department is committed to solving as many cold cases as possible and bringing closure to the families of those who have been affected by these tragedies via the use of cutting-edge technology, collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, and the cultivation of community ties.

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 Burlington Police Department (BPD)'s strategy for investigating unsolved cases?

The Burlington Vermont Police Department (BPD) uses cutting-edge forensic technology, partners with other law enforcement agencies, and reaches out to the local community as part of its plan to solve cold cases.

DNA evidence and other physical evidence that may have been acquired during the original inquiry are analyzed using state-of-the-art forensic technology, which is one of BPD's key techniques. In order to evaluate evidence and find fresh leads, the BPD Cold Case Unit collaborates closely with the Vermont Forensic Laboratory and the FBI's Regional Forensic Laboratory in Vermont.

Working with other organizations is also essential to BPD's approach. To better investigate cold cases, the department has collaborated with the Vermont State Police, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies on a local, state, and federal level. Many cases have been solved thanks to the efforts of these collaborations, including the 1982 murder of Jane Doe, whose remains were identified in 2018. (NamUs).

Community outreach is another tool used by BPD to increase the number of leads and tips they receive from the general public. The agency collaborates with local media to raise awareness of cold cases and solicit tips from the public. Also, the department has set up a hotline and an email address specifically for cold case tips. BPD has launched a Cold Case podcast and Facebook page to raise public awareness and find new leads.

BPD also maintains tight relationships with victim advocates and family members of victims in order to give them with support and update them on the status of ongoing investigations. Victim advocates in the agency work directly with families to offer comfort and guidance as they deal with the criminal justice system.

Finally, case reviews and reexaminations of evidence are key parts of BPD's technique. The Cold Case Unit always looks at old cases with new eyes and takes a different tack. Some cold cases have been solved thanks to the discovery of new evidence and promising leads uncovered through this method.

In conclusion, the approach BPD takes to solving cold cases is thorough and varied. To find new leads and tips, the agency uses cutting-edge forensic technology, partners with other organizations, and reaches out to the community. The division also follows up with victims' loved ones and analyzes old cases to reexamine evidence and find fresh leads.

What resources are available to help solve cold cases?

In order to help with solving cold cases, Burlington, Vermont has a number of resources. Among these are:

The Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit works to aid local Vermont police departments in their investigations. They have the manpower and knowledge to look into unsolved cases, and they collaborate with local authorities to finally give victims and their loved ones some peace of mind.

The Cold Case Unit of the Burlington Police Department investigates murders and disappearances that have not been resolved. In certain circumstances, the unit collaborates with the Vermont State Police and other law enforcement entities.

The Vermont Criminal Information Center compiles and tracks information about all cold cases in the state of Vermont, including murders and disappearances. All of the state's police departments have access to this database, where they can collaborate on solving crimes.

The Vermont Crime Stoppers program is run by a non-profit organization that allows members of the public to anonymously report information concerning criminal activity in the state. They have incentive programs for information leading to the solving of cold cases.

Professional private investigators can be hired in Burlington and all around Vermont to look into unsolved crimes. They might know people or have access to information that can help solve cases.

There are a number of tools at the public's disposal in Burlington, Vermont, that can be used to investigate and potentially solve cold cases. The collaboration of law enforcement, databases, nonprofits, and private investigators can help people find closure and justice for their loved ones.

Major cities surrounding Burlington, Vermont

South Burlington, Vermont
Colchester, Vermont
Essex Junction, Vermont
Winooski, Vermont
Williston, Vermont

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