Toledo Police Cold Case Homicide Unit
The Toledo Police Department along with the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office has been actively investigating unsolved murders since 1999.
During this time approximately fifty murders have been solved after the unit re-opened an investigation into that case. Currently the Unit is assisted by a grant from the Nation Institute of Justice. The grant targets unsolved cases that have the possibility of DNA. The grant allows for the payment of an employee to organize and summarize old murder files. These files are then scanned along with all video, audio and photographic evidence. A search is made to determine if any forensic evidence is still available for testing.
The primary goal is to assist families of murder victims. The oldest cleared case dates back to 1967. A fourteen year old girl was never seen alive again after getting off of a school bus. DNA technology assisted in solving this case. The Cold Case Unit is also credited with convicting five different serial killers. All are currently incarcerated. In 2006 a Catholic priest was convicted for the murder of a nun. The murder occurred in 1980 at Mercy Hospital in the sacristy of the chapel.
If you have any information concerning an unsolved homicide you are encouraged to contact Sergeant Steve Forrester (419-245-1594) or Detective Bart Beavers (419-245-3118).