Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program
ABOUT COLD
The Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program provides funding to prosecute violent cold case crimes and to decrease the number of violent cold case crimes awaiting prosecution. This program funds the prosecution of cases where a suspect’s DNA has been identified (suspect may be known or unknown) and provides resources for state and local prosecuting agencies to increase their capacity in addressing violent cold case crimes. Provided that DNA from a suspect has been identified, funds may be used to support investigative activities as well as forensic analyses in cases where performing these could lead to prosecution.
To learn more about the COLD Program and potential funding opportunities, please visit Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program.
With homicide rates increasing and clearance rates decreasing, unsolved violent cold cases are on the rise³. From 1980 to 2016, there are an estimated 242,000 unsolved homicides. Additionally, the clearance rate for violent crimes has declined from 78.3% in 1975 to 59.4% in 2016. This data demonstrates a clear need for the justice community to address the gaps in solving violent cold cases. Through funding prosecutorial efforts, the Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA program aims to provide justice for the victims and their families and friends, as well as prevent future backlogs of unsolved violent cold cases.
[3] Based on Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Part 1 data.
Key Performance Metrics
Since 2019, COLD Program funds were used to:
- Upload multiple suspect profiles to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS/AFIS)
- Identify 94 suspects who were initially unknown
- Prosecute 20 cases that have resulted in convictions
- Identify 39 suspects via Forensic Genetic Genealogy work
- Charge or indict 66 cases
- Resolve 83 cold cases
GRANTEES
This map is representative of all COLD Program awards made since 2020.
If you are interested in viewing more award data, please visit the OJP Award Data webpage.
LIST OF GRANTEES
| GRANTEE NAME | STATE | FISCAL YEAR(S) |
|---|---|---|
| MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE | AZ | 2021 & 2022 |
| CITY OF LOS ANGELES | CA | 2022 |
| CONTRA COSTA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE | CA | 2020 & 2024 |
| COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE | CA | 2021 |
| COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO | CA | 2020 & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF STANISLAUS | CA | 2022 |
| MONTEREY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE | CA | 2021 |
| SACRAMENTO DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE | CA | 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| SANTA CLARA DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE | CA | 2021 |
| CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER | CO | 2023 |
| COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | CO | 2023 |
| DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT | CO | 2020 |
| DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION | CT | 2023 |
| STATE OF CONNECTICUT JUDICIAL BRANCH | CT | 2020 |
| CITY OF LAUDERHILL | FL | 2023 |
| CITY OF MIAMI | FL | 2024 |
| CITY OF TAMPA | FL | 2023 |
| COUNTY OF BROWARD | FL | 2024 |
| COUNTY OF HILLSBOROUGH | FL | 2021 |
| COUNTY OF PALM BEACH | FL | 2020 & 2022 |
| INDIAN RIVER COUNTY | FL | 2023 |
| STATE ATTORNEY OFFICE 4TH DISTRICT | FL | 2020 |
| COUNTY OF COBB | GA | 2021 |
| COUNTY OF DEKALB | GA | 2023 |
| COUNTY OF FULTON | GA | 2021 |
| COUNTY OF COOK | IL | 2022 |
| CITY OF FORT WAYNE | IN | 2022 |
| CITY OF BOSTON | MA | 2023 |
| STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT | MA | 2024 |
| BALTIMORE STATE’S ATTORNEY OFFICE | MD | 2024 |
| PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE | MD | 2020 & 2024 |
| CHARTER COUNTY OF WAYNE | MI | 2020 |
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE MICHIGAN | MI | 2023 |
| CITY OF WINSTON SALEM | NC | 2024 |
| NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | NC | 2021 |
| CITY OF OMAHA | NE | 2022 |
| COUNTY OF UNION | NJ | 2022 |
| CITY OF NEW YORK | NY | 2022 & 2024 |
| CITY OF NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT | NY | 2023 |
| COUNTY OF NASSAU | NY | 2022 |
| COUNTY OF SUFFOLK | NY | 2024 |
| COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER | NY | 2022 |
| OFFICE OF THE QUEENS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY | NY | 2021 |
| CITY OF DAYTON | OH | 2022 |
| CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE | OH | 2021 & 2022 |
| CITY OF TULSA | OK | 2023 |
| OKLAHOMA STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL | OK | 2024 |
| COUNTY OF WASHINGTON | OR | 2020 & 2023 |
| CITY OF ERIE | PA | 2024 |
| PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSION ON CRIME AND DELIQUENCY | PA | 2021 |
| RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL | RI | 2024 |
| TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION | TN | 2020 |
| ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS | TX | 2023 |
| HARRIS COUNTY | TX | 2024 |
| HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT | TX | 2021 & 2022 |
| KING COUNTY REGIONAL AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT IDENTIFCATION SYSTEM GUILD | WA | 2024 |
RESOURCES
Publications
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Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) recognizes that Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) can be a powerful investigative tool for resolving violent crimes. By combining traditional genealogy research methods with forensic DNA analysis, law enforcement can develop investigative leads that may assist in identifying an unknown perpetrator or an unidentified victim of...
The application of forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) has technological limitations and will not resolve every case. By taking the time to thoroughly evaluate cases and associated evidence with both local crime laboratory representatives and FGG vendor laboratory representatives, law enforcement investigators can greatly increase the chances of attaining successful case...
This report, which was mandated by The Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016, details the results of a national needs assessment of forensic science service providers conducted in 2017 and 2018. The needs assessment focused on services provided by forensic laboratories, medical examiner and coroner offices, and other forensic...
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...
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...
Multi-Media
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The Forensics TTA calendar of events provides a centralized view of national conferences, trainings, and other events of interest to BJA Forensics Program grantees. This calendar is a downloadable resource designed to assist grantees with effective planning of event attendance when supported by BJA Forensics Program funding. Event entries are...
This webinar, presented by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), features an overview of the FY2024 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program solicitation. As part of this presentation, BJA discusses various elements of the solicitation, changes that have been implemented from previous iterations of the program, eligibility requirements, and...
This webinar features the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Forensics TTA teams welcoming FY2023 grantees of the Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program. BJA Policy and Program staff provide a brief overview of the grant program, provide examples of allowable activities that fall within guidelines of the...
Protocols
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The purpose of this interim policy is to promote the reasoned exercise of investigative, scientific, and prosecutorial discretion in cases that involve forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis and searching (FGGS)...
Repositories
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Repositories coming soon.
HIGHLIGHTS AND EVENTS
More than 45 years ago, Kathryn Donohue, a 31-year-old union secretary, went out for dinner in Georgetown with co-workers after work. Early the next morning, on March 3, 1979, a person found her body in a parking lot in Glenarden, Maryland, miles away from where she lived in Arlington, Virginia...
Congratulations and welcome to all BJA Forensics Programs FY24 grantees!...
An arrest has been made in a 1990 sexual assault and double homicide case out of DeKalb County, Georgia. 55-year-old Kenneth Perry faces multiple charges in connection to the murder of siblings Pamela and John Sumpter. Nearly 34 years after the attack, a federal grant “Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA”...
Jurn Norris, 69, formerly from Marina, has been identified as the perpetrator in the killings of Helga DeShon and Uicha Malgieri, both young military spouses slain in their apartments in 1979. According to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, they have not been able to file charges against Norris because...
Congratulations and welcome to all BJA Forensics Programs FY23 grantees!...
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and New York City Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban announced that a Florida man has been charged in separate indictments for raping a woman in the Bronx and a woman in Manhattan two decades ago, after new DNA technology...
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, alongside the San Diego Police Department, convicted the killer of Larry Breen whose murder occurred on May 24, 1990. Mr. Breen was a petty officer and cook in the U.S. Navy stationed aboard the USS Fox CG-33. At the time of his death...
Pennsylvania State Police charged Dorwart, 54, of Pleasure Road in Manheim Township, after using genealogical DNA to match semen recovered after the assaults to DNA collected from a Rutter’s cup Dorwart dropped into his trash in May, according to charging documents...
A Denver jury found Steven Cumberbatch (currently 61-years-old) guilty of murdering Rita DesJardine. Ms. DesJardine was 36-years old when in December 1994, her body was found in a Denver motel room. The jury found Cumberbatch guilty of one count of murder in the first degree and he was immediately sentenced...
A new $500,000 grant will enable the DNA testing of evidence held in cases, some dating back decades. The federal grant also covers the addition of detectives dedicated to the cases and a prosecutor for when they crack a case...
The husband of Deborah Lee Atrops has been arrested for her murder, 35 years after her death. The arrest of Robert Atrops was the first major case the Washington County Cold Case Unit has worked on since it began in 2020. The Washington County District Attorney’s Office secured a grant...
Last winter, police in Denver, Colorado, announced that they had solved the cold-case murders of four women who had died about 40 years ago, all of whom had been the victims of one man—a previously unknown serial killer named Joe Michael Ervin. It took years of old-school police work and...
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) will receive a $500,000 grant through the Department of Justice’s ‘Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA’ program. According to PBSO, the sheriff's office can now send DNA to private laboratories that use genetic genealogy testing. This testing option is currently not available at the...
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) announced that it would receive about $3 million in grants from the Department of Justice to help victims of crime. MCAO’s $500,000 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program grant will enable additional DNA testing, the creation of a countywide database of cold cases...
The Denver Police Department and law enforcement partners today announced that through the continued determination of investigators, DNA evidence, investigative genetic genealogy and familial DNA search, the suspect in three Denver cold case homicides and an Adams County cold case homicide has been identified as Joe Michael Ervin (DOB: 6/25/51)...
District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Task Force a $535,000 grant for the use of DNA technology in cold-case investigations and prosecutions. With the support of the grant, the Cold Case Task Force...
Upcoming Events
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Past Events
On behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) Team, led by RTI International, is hosting the 3rd Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting on June 9-10, 2025!
This year’s virtual meeting will offer a series of educational case studies and sessions...
On behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) Team, led by RTI International, is hosting the 2nd Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting, on June 10-11, 2024!...
On behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) Team, led by RTI International, is hosting the 1st Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting, scheduled for October 2-3, 2023!...
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