Programs

Cold Case Justice Initiatives

There are more than 250,000 unsolved murders across the country. Well, at least since 1980 when anyone started counting. One in five victims are unknown. Before the police can even begin to catch their killers, they need to know who the victims are. Outdated practices, loss of evidence, apathy, mismatched federal policies, and lack of resources create unsettling obstacles. Since 2010, IFAAS has worked with agencies around the county to bring long-term cases up to current standards and help find the missing. From Jane Doe grave excavations to skeletal analysis, and facial reconstructions, to isotope and DNA testing - the processes of both the historic and contemporary investigations are researched and investigated. This effort has helped resolve many recent cases to those that had remained untouched for 20, 30, 40+ years and demonstrate how scientific innovation is tipping the scale in favor of justice.