Albuquerque, New Mexico's law enforcement still has a serious problem with cold cases. There have been numerous murders and disappearances in the city since 1980, and many of these cases have yet to be solved.
As of March 2023, 414 cold cases dating back to 1980 have been reported in Albuquerque through the National Missing and Unidentified People System (NamUs). There are 187 confirmed cases of missing people, and 227 confirmed incidents of murder. There are people of various ages, both sexes, and different ethnicities involved in these cases, and many of them have been unsolved for decades.
Because of the complexity and difficulty of solving cold cases, law enforcement has created a number of approaches. Re-examining evidence from crime scenes with the help of cutting-edge forensic tools like DNA analysis is a common tactic. In recent years, tremendous advances have been made thanks to the development of new technologies that have helped law enforcement agencies identify suspects and bring them to justice.
Public outreach is another tactic that can be used to find new clues and information about the cases. This can involve engaging with community organizations and advocacy groups to spread the word about the incidents and encourage individuals to come forward with any information they may have as well as making public appeals through media outlets, social media, and other platforms.
To help families of missing individuals and homicide victims deal with their grief and keep their loved ones' cases in the public view, law enforcement authorities work closely with them. Family members of victims of missing persons and homicides can rely on the Albuquerque Police Department's Victim Advocate program for guidance and comfort throughout the investigation and court proceedings.
Without tangible evidence or eyewitnesses, investigating cold cases can be extremely difficult. Since many of these instances were first investigated decades ago, progress may be slow if no new evidence or technology has emerged since then. Albuquerque's PD has multiple plans in place to deal with these issues.
One tactic is to re-interview previous interviewees, such as family members and witnesses, to determine whether they have any new information or if their memories have altered. Some potential witnesses may feel more at ease talking to police now than they did in the past.