A Guide To Investigating A Cold Case Presentation by:  Andy Rosenzweig Director The Cold Case Forum, LLC Ret. NYPD Det./Lieutenant, Chief of Detective’s Office; Chief Investigator, Manhattan DA's  Office ; Dep. Chief, Providence PD, Hartford PD; subject of “A Cold Case”, by award winning author Philip Gourevitch.

Table of Contents

Why aggressively pursuing "cold case" investigations will help reduce rates of crime and violence.

Introduction 

                A brief history about Mr. Rosenzweig’s career and what sparked an interest in cold case investigations, including a reference to two particular cases:  Frank Koehler and Robert Bierenbaum.

I           What makes a case “cold”? 

a.                    The first seventy-two hours

b.                   Clearance rates

c.                    Inability to develop credible sources or witnesses

d.                   Lack of physical evidence

II          When does a case merit attention as a “cold case”? 

a.                    Solvability factors

b.                   Family interest and advocacy

c.                    Setting priorities

d.                   Public alarm or concern

III        Who investigates a “cold case”? 

a.                    The original investigator

b.                   A newly assigned investigator

c.                    A full-time cold case unit

d.                   A part-time cold case unit

e.                    A prosecutor with assigned investigators

f.                     A volunteer individual/unit

g.                   Journalists

h.                   Law or Criminal Justice students

IV        How do you pursue a “cold case”?

a.                    Read the case file

b.                   Compile a witness list

c.                    Make an inventory of physical evidence

d.                   Examine crime scene photos

e.                    Visit the crime scene

f.                     Interview original officer and detective

g.                   Make partnerships (Crime Lab; prosecutor; etc.)

h.                   Interview witnesses

i.                     Interview victim’s family, friends

j.                     Do your own canvass

k.                    Obtain victim’s telephone records; emails; other documents

l.                     TIPS, Crime-stoppers, and using the media

V         DNA  

a.                    What does DNA mean for investigators; victims; assailants?

b.                   How do we educate ourselves on this emerging science?

c.                    What it means for police administrators and trainers

d.                   The future

VI        Why do we conduct “cold case” investigations?