Designed for use by investigators in any agency, large or small, Practical Cold Case Homicide Investigations Procedural Manual provides an overview of the means and methods by which previously reported and investigated—yet unresolved—homicides might be solved. Written by an experienced cold case investigator and consultant, this convenient handbook is drawn from the author’s previous work, Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques and follows the successful format of Vernon Geberth’s Practical Homicide Investigation: Checklist and Field Guide.

The book examines the basics of case identification and reactivation, providing insight into file retrieval and review. It discusses the legal aspects of cold case investigation and prosecution and explores how to take advantage of technology and forensics advances developed since the case went cold—including forensic and people-searching databases. Readers will learn how techniques used in current homicide investigations have an expanded role in cold case investigations. The convenient format features a summary and checklist template and includes simple, step-by-step instructions.

While cold cases are frustrating for investigators and victims’ families, this book shows how modern cold case homicide investigation can best exploit the primary solvability factors of changes in technology and changes in relationships—turning the concept of time as an enemy into time as a friend.