In the News - Cold Case Coalition
Investigators say DNA database can be goldmine for old cases (Jun 16, 2018)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/jun/16/investigators-say-dna-database-can-be-goldmine-for/
A $3,000 reward is now available for anyone who helps solve one of Utah’s 200-plus cold case murders and disappearances (Jul 31, 2018)
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/07/31/reward-is-now-available/
Group offers $3K rewards in each of 200 Utah cold cases (Aug 1, 2018)
https://www.ksl.com/article/46369335/group-offers-3k-rewards-in-each-of-200-utah-cold-cases
Utah Cold Case Coalition declares August Cold Case Month
(Aug 3, 2018)
https://universe.byu.edu/2018/08/03/utah-cold-case-coalition-announces-august-as-cold-case-month1/
'Calling all packrats': Cold case group seeks help in restoring case files (Nov 20, 2018)
https://kutv.com/news/local/calling-all-packrats-cold-case-group-seeks-help-in-restoring-case-files
Utah Cold Case Coalition launches ambitious plan to run its own DNA testing lab to help crack unsolved crimes (Apr 25, 2019)
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2019/04/25/utah-cold-case-coalition/
These Utahns hope to help solve old crimes by magnet fishing in Ogden’s rivers
(Aug 31, 2019)
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2019/08/31/these-utahns-hope-help/
Utah Cold Case Coalition hopes to spread the word on Weber County unsolved murders, missing persons (Sep 5, 2019)
https://www.standard.net/police-fire/utah-cold-case-coalition-hopes-to-spread-the-word-on-weber-county-unsolved-murders-missing/article_74825245-51bc-55e8-8957-1f1ee727f679.html
The Justice Files: New DNA lab ready to help solve cold cases (May 15, 2020)
https://www.abc4.com/news/top-stories/the-justice-files-new-dna-lab-ready-to-help-solve-cold-cases/
In the News - Native American Women
BYU community speaks out about missing and murdered Native American women (Feb 20, 2020)
https://universe.byu.edu/2020/02/20/lack-of-coverage-around-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-womens-cause-victims-families-voices-to-go-unheard/
In the News - Daniel C. Edmonds
The Justice Files: Where is Danny Edmonds? (Jun 12, 2020) https://www.abc4.com/news/top-stories/the-justice-files-where-is-danny-edmonds/
In the News - Lopine "Chynna" Toilolo
'Adults have a right to disappear,' so what can you do if a loved one goes missing? (Jun 17, 2020)
LOPINE "CHYNNA" TOILOLO AND CALL TO ACTION LESSONS LEARNED: It's a real tragedy what happened to Chynna Toilolo, and we grieve for the family, but under the circumstances, justice will be served because of the quick action on the part of the family, not the police (However, they did their job once a body was discovered).
When the police informed the Toilolo family they couldn't do anything to help "because adults have a right to disappear" and refused to open a missing persons case, the family launched their own investigation by accessing Chynna's phone records and checking account promptly.
Valuable lessons are learned here:
(1) Police agencies need reform, in that they truly need a Missing Persons Unit or for smaller departments an officer assigned to missing persons cases specifically because banking and cellular phone records should be accessed immediately under the Community Caretaker Doctrine exception to the Fourth Amendment;
(2) if the police can't help, or won't help, the family should jump into action just as the Toilolo family did. Phone carriers will only keep records for a very short time unless professional prompted to preserve records otherwise. (Upon request, I have a Preservation of Records Request); and
(3) if the family needs help there are resources and volunteer organizations such as We Help The Missing and the Utah Cold Case Coalition, or they can even hire a private investigator who has experience in finding missing persons.
We Help The Missing - https://www.wehelpthemissing.org/
Utah Cold Case Coalition - https://www.coldcasecoalition.net/