The Maneater University of Missouri- Columbia

Bi-weekly Student Newspaper (online and print) -Nichole Ballard

Feb. 2010

   

 

 

Carolyn Williams was stabbed to death on New Year's Eve 22 years ago in Columbia.

According to the Columbia Police Department, her murder has never been solved. Her case turned cold. Today, Williams' and other unsolved cases might have a new chance for closure.

Adjunct Professor for Columbia College Michael Himmel has taken a special interest in cold cases around Missouri since his retirement from the CPD. Himmel teaches a class focused on solving these unsolved crimes and assists CPD by investigating cold cases. His class will test the old evidence in the Williams case for DNA, which in 1988 hadn't been invented yet.

"We reviewed the entire case file and found some particular items of interest," Himmel said. "We picked out five specific items of evidence."

The government has provided guidance in creating cold case squads for law enforcement and the process involved in investigating a cold case. According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance Web site, cold case investigators usually start by reviewing the case file, talking with all previous investigators tied to the case and obtaining any notes they might have that are not in the case file.

Himmel and CPD's approach to solving these cases are similar to the guidelines set forth by the BJA.

CPD Detective John Short, who handles CPD cold cases, said the department is hoping Williams' case is solved. Short also said the memory of witnesses is one of the major challenges investigating a cold case.

"These cases are hard because people's memory fade as time goes by," he said.

Technology has also helped reduce the load and fill in some of the gaps caused by time. MU Police Department Capt. Brian Weimer said one of the biggest things that helps the department solve cold cases is the advancement of DNA technology. But not all unsolved crimes are cold cases, Weimer said.

MUPD's policy and procedural manual states a cold case is a criminal investigation that remains unsolved after all leads have been exhausted. Cold cases are violent or other major felony crimes that, unlike unsolved minor crimes, are generally not subject to a statute of limitations, the manual states.

"This (classification of a cold case) is different for every agency," Weimer said.

CPD Capt. Stephen Monticelli said the department doesn't have a set policy to classify a cold case.

"Homicides always remain open until an arrest is made," he said. "It doesn't necessarily have to be a homicide to remain open. Generally when we have a case that is under a year old, it is still an active case."

If there is a suspect with probable cause, Short said the case is not classified as cold, such as the recently apprehended suspect in the Rebecca Doisy case.

"We knew who did it in that one," Short said. "Cases are considered cold cases where no suspect has been named. If you have enough to get a warrant you don't have a (cold) case."

Weimer said about two to three cases qualify as a cold case at MUPD annually. The CPD reports having around two to three cold cases still open from the last 20 years.