The Crimes Against People Section of the El Paso Police Department (EPPD) is responsible for investigating cold cases. Detectives in the Crimes Against People Unit have received specialized training to handle difficult and protracted investigations.
The EPPD's Crimes Against People Unit has a multi-pronged approach to solving cold cases, which includes:
The team conducts a thorough assessment of the case and analyzes all of the information and evidence at their disposal, including forensic evidence, witness statements, and earlier investigation reports.
In order to acquire more information and look for contradictions in their testimonies, detectives will reinterview witnesses and prospective suspects.
In order to see if forensic evidence, such as a DNA sample, matches any current databases or can be re-analyzed with updated techniques, investigators will frequently re-examine it.
The Crimes Against People Unit may partner with the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Texas Rangers to pool their respective agencies' resources and expertise.
Crimes Against People Unit officers may use media interviews and social media posts to solicit tips from the general public.
Create fresh leads: Investigators will try to generate new leads by reevaluating existing evidence, interviewing potential witnesses, and following up on tips and leads that may have been missed during the first investigation.
The EPPD's strategy for solving cold cases is all-encompassing, involving the use of every tool at their disposal to unearth fresh leads and finally solve the case.