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Author: Yujiemi Chisholm
Legal Document Repository

State of Washington v. William Talbott – Case Documents

The case documents pertain to the 1987 Washington double homicide case, State of Washington v. William Talbott, and collectively outline the parties’ positions on evidentiary and constitutional issues, the use and admissibility of Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG)derived investigative leads, and the forensic and procedural basis for charging decisions in this decades old double homicide case. The materials include: (1) the defense’s motion for a new trial; (2) the defense’s supplemental motions in limine; (3) the defense’s trial brief; (4) the defense’s motion to sever offenses; (5) The prosecution’s trial memorandum; and (6) the prosecution’s charging affidavit.
July 2019
National Institute of Justice

National Best Practices for Implementing and Sustaining a Cold Case Investigation Unit

The U.S. Justice Department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) assembled and collaborated with the Cold Case Investigation Working Group (CCIWG) in developing this guide to assist law enforcement agencies in creating a mechanism for addressing the cold cases in their jurisdictions [Description provided by the NIJ website].
July 2019
Additional Resources

National Best Practices for Implementing and Sustaining a Cold Case Investigation Unit

The U.S. Justice Department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) assembled and collaborated with the Cold Case Investigation Working Group (CCIWG) in developing this guide to assist law enforcement agencies in creating a mechanism for addressing the cold cases in their jurisdictions [Description provided by the NIJ website].
July 2019
Legal Document Repository

Defendant’s Trial Brief (State of Washington v. William Talbott)

Defense’s trial brief in a Washington double homicide case that occurred in 1987. The defense raises confrontation clause issues regarding testimonial evidence from absent witnesses (including individuals involved in the forensic testing of evidentiary items in the case) and chain of custody and admissibility issues regarding evidence collected during the autopsy of one of the victims.
June 2019
Office of Justice Programs

Investigating Violent Crime: The Prosecutor’s Role – Lessons Learned From the Field

Based on the discussions of seasoned prosecutors of violent crime who met in 2017 to examine how to improve the investigation of violent crimes, this paper reviews the various phases of an investigation and provides an overview of issues discussed, along with representative descriptions of the approaches used and challenges faced by the jurisdictions represented [Description provided by the OJP website].
June 2019