All Rights Reserved. One witnessstated he saw Beller with Steelethe night of his death. The suspect, Edmond Beauregard Degan (w/m, 57), is charged with capital murder in the 208th State District Court. Shed had some dental work done, but her teeth were natural and in good shape. /Missing Persons summaries and if you have any information pertaining to any of these cases, please contact the Austin Police Department Homicide . The Crime Scene Unit has the primary responsibility of processing all crime During his tenure at the Austin Police Department, J.J. was assigned as a Detective in the Homicide Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit. e-mail the Cold Case Unit. However, no known match was found and all possible leads at that time were exhausted. Then, Dodd went missing sometime after Easter in 1984. complainant is expected to survive along with all other non-family or non-sexual assault They chase new leads, hunt for witnesses, run a license plate that was not checked, and search the cavernous HPD property room to track down evidence gathered in the original investigation. For more on the Unsolved series or to share cold case information with Courtney, follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Within a few years, Dennis was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned as a homicide detective during a time when Houston experienced 800- plus murders a year. "We never shelve a case," Lieutenant Melissa Countryman says. In this case, detectives were also aided by the fact that Cardenas' DNA was already on file because of a conviction for a 2014 charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, Rodriguez said. 209 Following. In late 2014, investigators in the Cold Case Unit received information from an individual who identified Edmond Degan as a possible suspect. Investigators used advancing DNA technology and the fact that a man was already in state prison to solve a cold case involving a 2009 fatal stabbing on the west side of Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. The Cold Case Unit has been supported, in part . HPD Homicide Division Senior Police Officer P. Vela reported: Mr. Steele was found deceased inside his apartment at the above address, having sustained multiple stab wounds. In 2005-06, he was given the difficult task of finding the needed evidence for private DNA retesting of over 500 Post-Conviction DNA cases investigated by the troubled HPD Crime Lab, DNA Section. Manuel Manny Fuentes has over 44 years of service in law enforcement working for the Austin Police Department, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Office of the Inspector General, and the Travis County District Attorneys Office. But the toll is clear: Families dont get closure. Stays in private psychiatric facilities. OK, I got hair, he recalled thinking. The Homicide Division is responsible for the investigation of deaths that occur in the city of Houston. Houston police reached out to ABC13's Courtney Fischer because of her Unsolved series, featuring stories of missing and murdered forgotten victims. Information from Homicide Cold Case Squad I t came down to a few strands of hair on a hairbrush sitting in an evidence room for almost . Heres what you need to know. The Sex Crimes Unit has the responsibility of investigating sexual assaults with HOUSTON It's one of the biggest unsolved murders in Houston, and now cold case investigators are looking at it from a different angle, hoping new forensic testing could help find the killer . Later, he spoke with a woman he believed was Dodds sister, Blake Kennedy. For over two decades, he investigated hundreds of homicides, kidnappings and sexual assaults. The newly tested DNA almost immediately showed a match with Cardenas' DNA already on file. 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen next week, How the Houston Zoo moved its flock of flamingos to a new home, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, Former KHOU anchor turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, Houston leaders delay vote on Hobby Airport concesssions contract, Astros show struggles with new MLB pitch clock rules, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter. 5257 or email them at [email protected]. From 1998 to 2004, John served as the Houston Police Departments chief of staff overseeing operations within the Office of the Chief of Police. Billy earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2002. Jay R. Jordan / Jay Jordan, Staff. Peggys life took a much different tack: She was sweet and kind, Kennedy recalled. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Dozens upon dozens of manila envelopes sit atop Detective Rich Rodriguez's desk at the Houston Police Department. Fort Bend had a backlog of about 75 cold cases. Mike Peters agreed, noting that it's rare for killers to be overcome by remorse and turn themselves in. He continued to serve with the police department and also practiced part-time in the areas of probate, family, and civil law until his retirement from the Houston Police Department in 2009. Pictures from the time showed her smiling and relaxing, reclining on a couch with their mother. Were it not for Minyard, the case might well have been overlooked. Every day across the U.S., investigations slow or stop completely, and cases go "cold." detail from archive resources. The Houston Police Department had one such lab - consumed by years of mismanagement, neglect, and corruption - out of which grew the Houston Forensic Science Center. Jim Binford is a native of Houston, Texas. Peggy Anne Dodd. January 16, 2015 - Investigators in the Houston Police Homicide Division Cold Case Unit have solved a 1984 investigation into the murders of two women. Debra Horn was eleven years old when she disappeared from her home in Allenstown on January 29, 1969. Again, the victim must be a Black man, murdered in the seventies, but in these cases, DNA from the unknown killer has to have been found on the body or on evidence. Other cases have almost no evidence at all. Holly Marie holds a picture of herself as a baby with her late parents, Harold Dean Clouse and Tina Gail Linn. Weeks after the initial call, he had an answer. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. They also assist in performing tactical crime analysis and "You've got your work cut out for you.". While many law enforcement agencies have Cold Case Units, they are typically . Note: Some states have a state-wide central repository while others have databases specific to counties, cities, and towns. Water gushes for days with no one stopping it, Couple had 'no respect' dumping close to a church, ABC13 viewer says, Houston's years of work to host Final Four down to 1-month countdown. She also holds a Master Peace Officer License and is a TCOLE certified instructor. The squad has reviewed all cases from 2000 to 2003 for untested evidence and is now working backward and examining files from the 1990s and the 1980s, when DNA testing was not as widely used. Angel has always had a strong passion for homicide cases and knew that was the direction she wanted to go with her career. Visit nh.gov for a list of free .pdf readers for a variety of operating systems. Man accused of trying to kill girlfriend 30 years ago is finally in jail in Galveston, 13 Unsolved: Patricia Kaye Humphreys vanished from drive-in movie theater in NW Houston in 1975, 13 Unsolved: Kristen Wilson's Thanksgiving 1996 murder remains a mystery, 13 Unsolved: Princess Blue was finally identified, but justice is still being sought, Whose leak is it anyway? He has reported for community newspapers across Texas, including the Galveston County Daily News, the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel and the Fort Bend Star. - Investigators in the Houston Police Department Cold Case Unit have identified a suspect, who has been subsequently charged, in the fatal stabbing of a man that occurred at 3952 Alabama on April 13, 1998.. The Major Assaults Unit conducts investigations of all adult assaults where the Investigators in the Houston Police Homicide Division Cold Case Unit have solved a 1984 investigation into the murders of two women. AUSTIN (KXAN) Austin Police's Cold Case unit has 170 open cases, according to APD Sgt. He is accused in the deaths of Yleen Kennedy, 33, and Lillie Kennedy, 23, of the above address. Anyone with information in these unsolved crimes is urged to contact the HPD's Cold Case Squad at (713) 308-3618. Joe began his career with the Houston Police Department where, as a lieutenant, he served in several major units including the Vice Division, Homicide Division, Criminal Intelligence Division, and the Chiefs Command. The Working Group's report and its recommendations leave no doubt about the urgency of the United States' cold case problem, nor about . Her career dedication to homicide investigations comes from personal experience involving the loss of family members due to murder and suicide. Investigators used advancing DNA technology and the fact that a man was already in state prison to solve a cold case involving a 2009 fatal . "They want to see if there's anything that can be done using modern, scientific methods or just to have someone review it to see if something was missed by the original investigators," Kleczynski said. Matt DeGrood is a general assignment and breaking news reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Many of these complex mysteries were solved by tireless tenacity and old-fashion investigative instincts. Rachel Delarosa Age. John Silva began his 30-year career with the Houston Police Department in 1981. When their mother died, they wrote shed been preceded in death by her daughter. Your Child Support And The Federal Stimulus Payment, How to Request an Attorney General Opinion, Retired Homicide Investigators Task Force. Investigators with the department's cold case squad reopened the case in 2021 as part of a review project, officials said. She kept returning to Rosenberg and the Richmond area and then leaving again. And in 2019 and 2021, they asked a couple of reserve officers to help look at old cases as well. Follow this link to. "But we do the best we can.". Blake Kennedy and her daughter, Jenny Estes, recently learned that the remains of Blakes sister, Peggy Anne Dodd, who had disappeared in 1984 as a 28-year-old, had been found and identified. Sergeant Jason Moran of the Cook County (IL) Sheriff's Office discusses the current situation of cold cases in the United States, why it's important to establish cold case units, how current tools and technology can help solve cold cases, and what National Institute of Justice resources are available to assist in solving cold cases. The OAG does not maintain state-wide data pertaining to cold cases, a records officer wrote, in response to the Chronicles request. But police found few leads into who might have been responsible for her stabbing death. Photographed on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at in Damon and Richmond. At tat time, Beller denied any involvement and officers were not able to obtain charges onhim in the crime. The remains were her sisters. Tucked inside the Pittsburgh Police Bureau is a team solely focused on one thing: solving cold cases. High-Level Justifications for Cold Case Units. Decades later, the news still hit like a punch. You cant do hot cases and cold cases at same time, he said. The late 1980s and early 1990s was a violent era in Houston. The Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program was created on September 1, 2001 by the 77th Session of Texas Legislature. "Based on the numbers of cases that haven't been solved, it may not seem like a good use of time. She was always disappearing.. Home 311 Help & Info Contact Us FAQs Privacy Policy CitizensNet. 2019 Legislative Session Update for Victims and Service Providers, 2021 Legislative Session Open Government Update. Billy Belk began his tenure with the Houston Police Department as a young officer patrolling the streets of northeast Houston. Due to advances in forensic testing, DNA that was previously not able to be processed was now tested and Beller was identified as the suspect in this case. Michael Peters, left, Lt. Richard Kleczynski, Senior Officer Connie Park, Senior Officer Mark Kral and Sgt. Sex Crimes Unit His sister, Peggy Anne Dodd. Details: On January 29, 2023, at approximately 2:17am, officers were dispatched to the 1600 Block of Karl Ct. on the report of several people shot.Officers arrived at scene and found victim #1 suffering from an apparent gunshot . The Greater Houston Police Activities League (GHPAL) is actively recruiting Houston area youth ages 8-18 and adult volunteers to participate in athletic, educational and mentoring activities. Most recently, a review of our records from an arrest and the subsequent recovery of a firearm assisted the Houston Police Department's Cold Case Unit with a case they were working on from 1969. Cold Case Squad, which reviews old homicide cases for new leads or evidence; Billy's extensive investigative experience came from assignments in the Homicide Division's Sex Crimes Unit, Murder Squad, Crime Scene Unit and Cold Case Squad. Gang Squad, which investigated gang-related murders and which collaborates with the FBIs Multi-Agency Gang Task Force; The brutal killings remain one of Houston's . . Call the Tip Line at 860-548-0606 or toll-free at 1-866-623-8058. After being trained in DNA technology by the Justice Department, he traveled part-time to teach other agencies about the practical application of DNA technology to local law enforcement communities. More than 3 1/2 years after the . These individuals serve on a voluntary basis assisting the Texas Attorney Generals Office Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit with the review of unsolved homicide and missing persons cases that are referred by local law enforcement agencies to the Unit. At the time of his promotion to the Homicide Division, Jim was the youngest detective to ever be selected to the Division and, at his retirement, the longest serving. Sometimes a cold case yields surprising results, such as the September arrest of a Houston man who had confessed 22 years ago to killing an 11-year-old boy. I was so upset, Kennedy said. MORE FROM THIS INVESTIGATION:A chance encounter spurred a Texas bill to help identify missing persons, but compliance is spotty. This is a carousel. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. A picture of Peggy Anne Dodd, right, sits on a table at her niece Jenny Estes home on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Damon. He wanted to collect DNA and see if his Doe was Kennedys sister. Got it.. It just gives you a good feeling to watch something like that. 1-866-623-8058. In 2001, Fuentes was recognized by the Austin City Council for his work in the release of two wrongfully convicted people for a 1988 murder of an Austin restaurant employee. I thought, 'Maybe this is something that we can look at and show the community that the department as a whole does care and that this is what we're doing to address it and make some wrongs right now.'". The home had been rummaged through and property had been taken. The suspect, Alex J. Beller, (b/m, 57) is charged with murder in the 230th State District Court. The Texas Attorney Generals Office cites a statewide backlog of more than 20,000 cold case homicides dating back to 1980, but when the Chronicle asked for a breakdown by county, officials there said one does not exist. Park is optimistic that new DNA testing will soon allow the squad to arrest the suspected killers of Carmen Tupas, a 78-year-old retired Houston teacher strangled by burglars who camped out at her townhouse, driving back and forth in her car for several days. Houston Chronicle. Manny is known across the state for his expertise in digital forensics and has testified as an expert witness in multiple court proceedings. No one claimed the body. Thats it, Minyard recalled thinking, clapping his hands at the memory. When the Texas Attorney Generals Office stood up a statewide cold case unit two years ago, officials surveyed hundreds of the states law enforcement agencies. Project: Cold Case is a one-of-a-kind organization that was born out of the desire to serve families that have lost loved ones to unsolved homicides. Cold Case Unit. "But the fact remains, when you open up these old cases, you never know what you'll find in them. The victims must be Black men killed before 1979. Cold Case Unit at the Office of the Chief State's Attorney at 860-258-5800, or. Prior to the cold case unit formed in 2006, which is staffed by two senior detectives, detectives were not specifically assigned to cold cases, Lt. Scott Spencer said. BOSTON Boston Police Detective Marivelle Crespo is the BPD's newest addition to the Cold Case Squad. City of Houston Police Department View Source Square with arrow pointing upper right. Additionally, he was a guest lecturer to dozens of outside state and federal agencies along with over 20 years of presentations to colleges and outside law enforcement agencies. 2019 Legislative Session Update for Victims and Service Providers, 2021 Legislative Session Open Government Update. Sgt. In February 2021, Joe retired from TDCJ-OIG as the Deputy Inspector General. Her mother reported Dodds disappearance to the Houston Police Department. Dennis Gafford began his career with the Houston Police Department at the ripe old age of 19. During the past two years, the Cold Case Squad has also assisted numerous other law enforcement agencies with their cases. Joe Buttitta has over 38 years of law enforcement experience. Fourteen years after her daughter Norma was killed, Eulalia Torres received some closure when HPD cold case detectives came by with news they had arrested a suspect. Beller is currently incarcerated in the Texas Department of Corrections on an unrelated charge. Why would I think she had died? More Information Homicide Division Cold Cases. "So, it wasn't something that was necessarily focused on or even really discussed in public.". Name. ABC13's Courtney Fischer explains. But when Torres opened the door and detectives asked if she was the mother of Norma Torres, she knew years of prayer had been answered: Police had solved the brutal killing of her daughter from 14 years ago. A loud knock at her door startled Eulalia Torres. Cardenas was already being held in the state prison in Teague, east of Waco along Interstate 45, when prosecutors brought the murder charge against him, police said. A Houston Chronicle reporter and photographer joined the Northeastern Trail Riders Association to document the highlights and challenges of life on the trail during the group's 108-mile journey to the 2023 Houston Houston police use DNA to link man in state prison to 2009 fatal stabbing cold case, Black trail riders head to Houston rodeo parade after grueling, joyful 6-day journey, Yainer Diaz becomes first Astros hitter to violate new MLB rules. This database currently consists of unsolved homicides from 50 Florida counties, 46 U.S. states, and 3 international countries. As of 2020, there were over 270,000 unsolved homicides in the United States and approximately 20,072 unsolved homicides in the state of Texas. , 57 ), is charged with murder in the deaths of Kennedy! 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