Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has seen its fair share of murders and disappearances, with many of the cases becoming cold. Around a hundred missing person and homicide cases have been reported in Baton Rouge since the 1980s, according to the National Missing and Unidentified People System (NamUs). For law enforcement and the loved ones of the victims, these instances constitute a formidable obstacle.
The length of time that has gone since the crime has been one of the biggest obstacles to solving cold cases. There's a chance that witnesses and evidence are hard to find or have degraded over time, complicating matters. Notwithstanding the obstacles, Baton Rouge's law enforcement is dedicated to solving cold cases and prosecuting those involved.
Baton Rouge police, for example, sometimes reexamine evidence by using modern forensic science. DNA testing, fingerprint analysis, and other forensic methods can be used to verify previously untested evidence. Evidence reexamined with cutting-edge forensic methods has produced new leads in some cases.
Baton Rouge law enforcement officials also conduct follow-up interviews with previously interviewed witnesses, victims' loved ones, and suspects. Witnesses and suspects may have moved away, changed their names, or even passed away throughout the course of an investigation. By re-interviewing them, detectives may learn new details or discover fresh leads.
Baton Rouge police departments also make use of forensic databases and cutting-edge technology to track down leads and apprehend criminals. For instance, the DNA evidence from cold cases can be matched to DNA profiles from convicted criminals, crime scenes, and unidentified remains stored at the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory.