Cold Case Homicide Division
The Cold Case Homicide Division promotes public safety by working with local law enforcement to resolve unsolved homicides within San Diego County. The division maintains close working relationships with law enforcement agencies including police laboratory criminalists. These relationships are key to solving and successfully prosecuting cases where the trail has gone cold for years. The Cold Case Division mantra is "Not Forgotten." Solving old cases delivers long-awaited justice and brings a measure of closure to families whose lives have been shattered by tragedy.
Since it was established in 2003, the Cold Case Homicide Division has played a role in solving and prosecuting numerous murders. The victims have come from all walks of life and from all areas of the county. The victims have included children and the elderly. The oldest case solved and prosecuted by the division involved a murder which occurred in 1971, although cases have been reviewed that date back into the 1960's.
In 2013, the cold case division was very busy. For example, long overdue justice was achieved when a jury convicted Charlie Shears of the 1996 robbery / murder of Sleiman Hallack. Cases involving murders from 1999, 2000 and 2001 have been issued and will be tried in the upcoming year. Also, the investigators and prosecutors have been teaming with other agencies to locate and arrest suspects who, despite being charged with murder, have avoided capture for many years.
As always, in addition to prosecuting cases in which an arrest has been made, the division continues to collaborate with law enforcement agencies in a continuing effort to solve more murders that have gone cold over years.
