Cold Cases
There are more than 450 cold cases throughout Utah which include homicides, missing persons, and unidentified deceased persons. In 2018, Utah lawmakers passed Senate Bill 160 which required all law enforcement agencies in Utah to enter their cold cases and missing persons cases into the database. The Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) successfully created and currently manages the Utah Cold Case database, and collaborates with four divisions to bring justice to victims and families. The Department’s Crime Lab, State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Statewide Information and Analysis Center (SIAC) and the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) all have a hand in supporting cases entered into the database.
As part of the requirements of Senate Bill 160, cases that remain unsolved at least 3 years after the crime occurred, or any homicide that has gone unsolved, must be submitted into the database.
Along with the support from Utah lawmakers, the development of the database was a collaborative effort between the Department of Public Safety, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Salt Lake City Police, Unified Police Department, the Chiefs and Sheriffs Association, the Utah Cold Case Coalition, Statewide Association of Prosecutors among others.
Law Enforcement wanting to add a cold case to the website can contact mmartinez@utah.gov or ovaisima@utah.gov.
Cold Case Tip Hotline: 833-DPS-SAFE (833-377-7233)