There are now 9,082 unsolved murders in New York City going back to 1985. That figure is a moving target of course. They are adding to that number all the time. Roughly 150 – 200 or more murders go cold every year, and try as they might, they are not going back and solving that many each year (of the older, cold cases).
That picture was take at one of the Property Clerk warehouses. Those barrels contain homicide evidence.
Attention! If you have a friend or loved one whose murder is still unsolved and you want to know what to do, please read this:
People ask repeatedly in the comments section about what to do or who to call about an unsolved murder. The answer to those questions are on the left under the heading, Getting Help – Contacting a Cold Case Squad. First read the document titled Before You Contact a Cold Case Squad. Then look up the number in the document Cold Case Squad and Other Organizations.
If you can’t find a number for your city or town, call your local police department and ask them if they have a cold case squad or a person in their homicide squad who specializes in cold cases. If they don’t then ask to speak to someone in their homicide squad. If you don’t get what you believe is a decent response, then go to the document on the left titled, Escalating Your Case.
If you have specific questions after reading through these instructions please ask here, but come back to see the answer!
785 responses so far ↓
1 Stacy Horn // Jan 18, 2011 at 8:22 am
Please read this post, it has suggestions about how to find out:
https://www.therestlesssleep.com/?p=704
2 Maureen // Feb 1, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Hi my name is Maureen I am trying to find out if the murder of Violet M Campbell who was murdered in her home at 106-11 101 Ave Richmond Hill, NY on or about August 1973. We lived upstair from her she was my landlord and a very close friend. How can I find out if the case was ever solved?
3 Stacy Horn // Feb 1, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Maureen you can call up the precinct and ask, the numbers for all the precincts are listed here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/home/precincts.shtml
Iris, I’m sorry about your brother. Please look at the instructions here on the upper left under “GETTING HELP – CONTACTING A COLD CASE SQUAD.”
4 Private Investigators // Mar 8, 2011 at 11:52 am
Missing Persons
Unsolved/Cold Case Investigations
Witness Locates
Criminal Matters(Federal & State)
Bus: 212-949-6530
5 Stacy Horn // Mar 8, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Hello? Do you have a name? What is your experience, exactly?
6 maureen g. o'brien // Mar 26, 2011 at 1:49 pm
O n the morning of April 26,1973, my father’s body was supposedly found in a subway station near Lexington in NYC. His killer has never been found. I’ve looked online for even his name being identified as a homicide in 1973. It wasn’t suicide- I had just gotten off the phone with hIm from LA. His name was James Peter Farley b. 6-19-1927. Can you point me in a direction? Thanks, M. G. O’Brien
7 TroyD // Mar 31, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Stacy Horn
I’ve responded to articles #78 and #79 And #81 with article #83 and still haven’t heard anything from Godfrey’s Kin – either Edna Or Kiera, I’ve even contacted you and asked you to intervene and you contact them, yet I still haven’t heard from either of them, I figure that the spam guard may have made me lose the email, so i’ve enclosed another email address, I so BAD want to speak to Godfrey Al Ferguson’s Family….thx
8 Jeannie Ramirez // Mar 31, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Hi MIss, Stacy Horn, I have been beating my brain on how to find out about my brother who was killed on October 23, 1977, in bushwick brooklyn new york on jefferson st and wilson and central. I was only 5 yrs old when this happen. I was sent away when i was 3 yrs old to foster care, and never seen my brother again..All I know is he was born on january 8, 1959 and was killed on october 23rd, 1977..I dont know anything else, Other than he was stabbed and killed…I would love to know what really happen to him, and if they ever caught the person who did this to him..I never really got to know my brother, I do have little memories of him. I have been online, and nothing seems to come up of him. I tried calling the 83rd precient , and tried getting info, but they to tell me they dont have information that old. I dont know what else to do..His name was Pedro suarez died 18 yrs old on oct, 23rd 1977, Born january 8, 1959…..Please help me, Please…..
9 Stacy Horn // Mar 31, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Hello. I forwarded your request for contact, beyond that there is nothing more I can do. Also, you didn’t actually include an email address so I will put it here in case there is someone who wants to contact you: troytdd@live.com
10 Stacy Horn // Mar 31, 2011 at 4:30 pm
It’s not true that they don’t have information this old. Call them back and if someone tells you that again, ask to speak to their supervisor. Actually, here’s the number for Detective Squad at the 83, call them: 718-574-1796.
11 Jeannie Ramirez // Mar 31, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Hi Stacy, Thank you for your responce. I will call the 83rd precient again. I wanted to call them back, But they are just so rude…My Email is sjeannie21@yahoo.com
12 Stacy Horn // Apr 1, 2011 at 12:58 pm
I wish people who hate their jobs would do us all a favor and find another. (Not that finding a job these days is so easy.)
13 Joe Sarcona // Apr 11, 2011 at 10:46 am
Mu uncle Onofrio Sarcona, was murdered in April of 1979 in Brooklyn, NY. I did contact Cold Case, and was informed by a Detective that they couldn’t give me any info because I wasn’t a direct relative. I contacted my cousin in Michigan, and he called the Detective and was promised that he would look into it and get back to us, that was 3 years ago. I tried numerous times to contact the detective and was always told that he was in court. I left my e-mail and phone number, but was never contacted. What do I do now?
14 Stacy Horn // Apr 11, 2011 at 12:15 pm
I’m going to respond via email.
15 Horace // Apr 12, 2011 at 11:34 am
I recently learned that Stacey E Kile was found dead 6/9/2009. From what I understand her body was found in a bag under a bridge in Queens. She had been there several days. Stacey’s mother has not been able to get much information from the detectives. She was calling every few months. She now calls once per year. Is there anyway to find out if any progress was made or if they are at a dead end? I am not a direct relative.
16 Josephina // Apr 12, 2011 at 11:16 pm
On March 3, 1995 two young teenage best friends were killed, execution style on an East Harlem rooftop in New york city. i was six years old then. one of those young teenage boys were my uncle, Ricky Santiago. ive been trying so hard to find closure within what happened to him but somehow that seems impossible. i just want to know why? how could someone do something so cruel. the most horrible thing about his case is the fact that he knew he was gonning to die. thats all i can remember him saying. i could feel him near me, he wants justice just as much as i do.
17 Stacy Horn // Apr 15, 2011 at 10:19 am
That is terribly sad, I’m so sorry. I have no answer for why people can be so cruel, but I’m very sorry that they are.
18 Stacy Horn // Apr 15, 2011 at 10:30 am
You wouldn’t be able to, but Stacey’s mother should be able to. I don’t know the facts of this case, so I am only speaking generally, but if following all the initial leads didn’t help them to make an arrest, at this point, two years later, nothing much will happen unless new evidence is found, or someone who wasn’t willing to talk then is willing to talk now. Few detectives will be this direct with family members because they don’t want to sound so hopeless. But the statistics for solving cases once they go cold are pretty bleak, unfortunately. I would suggest she call the detective back and just ask for the truth. If the detective won’t speak plainly ask to speak to his or her supervisor. There are a number of reasons why the detective may not be able to give the specific facts of his or her investigation, but they should be able to give an honest but general assessment of where they are with this case.
19 Lisa Guliani // Apr 17, 2011 at 8:12 am
Hi,
I realize you receive many many emails, but I think I need your help. Several days ago I learned that my son’s father is dead and has been dead since approximately the 3rd week of September 2000. I am trying to piece together what happened, but this man wasn’t easy to find while alive. I’ve been presented withh 4 death scenarios thus far, and I don’t know exactly what day he died (although I think it may have been September 23, 2000).
I need to know date of death, cause of death and what happened to the remains. My son and grandchildren are his only living blood relatives. I am in the process of trying to contact those who had knowledge of him and his whereabouts back in 2000.
I am told he may have been found dead in Tompkins Square Park, and another person told me that he was beaten to death by Hell’s Angels and found dead in an abandoned building, where he had been kicked to death.
I don’t know who to believe. I would like to know what happened with his remains, and I don’t think they could just release the remains to “anyone”. I have searched the Hart’s Island (Potter’s Field) databases and don’t see his name on there, but that does not mean he isn’t buried there. He may have also been donated for medical research. One person told me he was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Village. Another person told me this did not happen. Noone seems to have seen a death certificate, but that may only be because nobody around him at the time of his passing was family.
He left me and my son when I was 20 years old, and my son was 2 1/2 months old. Went to work one day and never came back.
We’ve searched for him for almost 25 years.
apparently, he died in 2000 and nobody ever informed us, as we were in another state.
My son really needs to know what happened to his father. If he died in a public space like Tompkins Square Park or in an abandoned building, one would think this might make news, even in NYC. It’s terrible how so many lost lives go unreported when the deceased is someone who was not rich or affluent.
Every life has value. Every life.
We seek closure. My son called the NYC police the other day trying to inquire about his father and was laughed at.
He used to use more than one social security number (aka OTHER people’s SS#’s) but he was arrested in the village back in the mid80s in Washington Square Park (and likely at some point after that), so I presume his fingerprints would be on file.
His name ws Pat Kaminski, but he went by the name of PAT STORM.
Everybody in the west village knew him by that name, and he was very well known in the east village.
If you can assist me in any way, I would be immeasurably in your debt.
My son just saw photos of his father from 1995. He broke down and cried because these are the first photos he’s seen of his father. My son is 24.
My email address is wingedpiper@yahoo.com, if you can advise in any way.
Many thanks for your time and attention.
Lisa Guliani
State College, Pa.
20 Stacy Horn // Apr 17, 2011 at 10:15 am
I am emailing this poster.
21 Stacy Horn // Apr 19, 2011 at 8:38 am
You should call the records department of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. 212-323-1777. Tell them the name and year, (Patrick Kaminski, 2000) but don’t specify where. Since you are not sure you want them to check all the boroughs. If they find a record of his death they will give you instructions about getting copies of his records.
You can also contact the New York Dept. of Vital Records and request a search. Again, since you don’t know which borough for sure, I would suggest searching them all.
http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/death.htm
Good luck.
22 Kema // May 22, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Hi, I’m trying to see if there’s any information about the death of my uncle, David Grisby. This was around the early 90’s, maybe 90 or 91. I believe he was murdered. And my family never spoke of it after that. Please if there’s any information help me find out.
23 Kema // May 22, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Also, I’m trying to find out what happened to a childhood friend of mines, Tanisha Jones. She was my bestfriend in elementary school. When I was 10yrs old , I found out that she was killed. I never heard what happened at all because I was a child. Both are westchester county cases.
24 Stacy Horn // May 23, 2011 at 3:08 pm
I would contact the police department where this occurred, but first you need to get more information. I have suggestions in this post here:
https://www.therestlesssleep.com/?p=704
25 Stacy Horn // May 23, 2011 at 3:10 pm
If you look over on the left, at the very top, it says: Getting Help-Contacting a Cold Case Squad—you should click on “Before You Contact a Cold Case Squad READ THIS” and read through those instructions. At the end there will be a link to phone numbers to call. But again, you need to research this a little more before contacting anyone, but you’ll see more about that in the instructions.
I’m very sorry about your uncle and your friend.
26 Giovanna // Jun 3, 2011 at 1:13 am
Hi,
My name is Giovanna, I am 24 years old and my mother died in the Bronx when I was 3 years old. She was murdered and her case is unsolved, being that NYC has thousands of unsolved cases I’ve been trying to decide if it is worth finding out if a 21 yr old cold case can possibly ever be re-opened? I’ve gotten rumors and clue info but I dont know what I can do with it? This has been on my mind for years please email with some info if possible. Thank you 🙂
27 Giovanna // Jun 3, 2011 at 1:18 am
And if I may I’d like to ad that I read your info about what to do before consulting a cold case squad and I do not have 90% of the info that is needed. My grandparents (my mothers parents) are not forthcoming with info either and do not want to participate in finding any more information in regards to who could’ve done this, so I am basically on my own with this and it happened when I was a toddler.
28 Stacy Horn // Jun 3, 2011 at 7:31 am
I’m not sure if you’re coming back so I will email you, but you didn’t say which information you didn’t have so I can’t advise you as to how to get it.
29 Judith // Jun 4, 2011 at 2:23 pm
I have been going thru my family tree information. I had an uncle that was murdered in New York. He was beaten. I think the murderer used a bat. I want to find out if justice was serve. This must have been a horrible death. My uncle didn’t deserve to die like this. Please, Please. Let me know how i can get more information about my uncle. His name was Maximino Jorge.. GOD bless.
30 Stacy Horn // Jun 4, 2011 at 2:51 pm
If you look over on the left, at the very top, it says: Getting Help-Contacting a Cold Case Squad. Click on “Before You Contact a Cold Case Squad READ THIS” and read through those instructions. At the end there will be a link to phone numbers to call. You need to research this a little more before contacting anyone, like asking other family members, etc., but you’ll see more about that in the instructions.
31 Judith // Jun 4, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Do you think that i will have any luck in finding out who murdered my uncle Maximino Jorge. As far as i know. My uncle was giving a birthday party for his son. An unwanted guest arrived at this party. My uncle didn’t want him there. My uncle told him to leave. The person left, Then the person waited outside for my uncle and he murdered him. It is my understanding that he hit my uncle with a bat. I am living in another State. Can someone outthere get me this information. This either happen in Manhattan, Bronx or Brooklyn. I need to know if justice was serve. Thank you and may GOD bless. judy
32 Stacy Horn // Jun 5, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Again, I would start by asking your relatives. I’m sure one of them knows when it happened, and where, and where the case was left. You really need to try to get more information before anyone can help you. At the very least you must try to narrow down when it happened and where. You can also use your local library. I have a post about how to do that here:
https://www.therestlesssleep.com/?p=704
I’m very sorry about your Uncle.
33 pedro mercado // Jun 11, 2011 at 7:41 pm
I need help in finding information on my uncle Julio Alvarez who was murdered along with his friend he was 24 in brooklyn,ny ,I would like to know if it was solved or if they had a suspect in the case ,I was 6 when he was murdered in september ,1977 thats all i know ,please if any info let me know,…
34 Stacy Horn // Jun 12, 2011 at 9:15 am
I’m sorry about your uncle. If you look over on the left, at the very top, it says: Getting Help-Contacting a Cold Case Squad. Click on “Before You Contact a Cold Case Squad READ THIS” and read through those instructions. At the end there will be a link to phone numbers to call. You need to research this a little more before contacting anyone however—if I’m understanding you correctly, you’re not sure this is even a cold case, which a relative might know. In any case, read through the instructions, if you have any questions after that, please let me know.
35 maureen // Jun 17, 2011 at 8:31 pm
HI, i’m trying to find out if there is a list of cold cases from the 1980’s for Long Island?
I’ve done numerous searches on the internet and your site has the best info so far – but i see you are geared towards NYC. thank you.
36 Stacy Horn // Jun 18, 2011 at 9:17 am
Hi Maureen. It’s not clear what you want exactly. Are you looking for a specific case? Totals? Where on Long Island? You also don’t say why you’re looking for this information. Not that it’s any of my business, I only ask because it would help me direct you.
37 maureen // Jun 18, 2011 at 10:12 pm
HI Stacy – i em’d details to you. thank you so much for responding so quickly.
38 Clinton Gary // Jun 23, 2011 at 2:35 am
HELLO,
My name is Clinton Gary i am the brother of one Howard Gary JR. i trying to find out why his murder was not solved . in 2001 he was murdered in the Nycha bulding killed piont blank after a struggle with two men. the elvator had cameras at the time and no one was cuaght , neither did ever hear back form the dectives about his case he lived at 1480 washington avenue, apt 2d I suspect fowl play from the dectives please help me have peace thank you.
39 Stacy Horn // Jun 23, 2011 at 8:02 am
I’m very sorry about your brother. If you look over on the left, at the very top, it says: Getting Help-Contacting a Cold Case Squad. Click on “Before You Contact a Cold Case Squad READ THIS” and read through those instructions. At the end there will be a link to phone numbers to call.
40 alfred hambie // Jun 25, 2011 at 11:05 am
are there any cold feloneies in manhattan four areas of Chelesa, Soho, Tribeca and Greenwich Village
41 alfred hambie // Jun 25, 2011 at 11:07 am
I am writing a dectitive mystery about those four areas in Manhattan
42 Stacy Horn // Jun 25, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Hi Alfred. I’m happy to help, but could you be more specific? As worded, you’re basically asking me if there are any unsolved crimes in these areas and of course there are, which I’m sure you know. If I knew more precisely what you were trying to find out I could direct you. The NYPD has stats, the FBI has stats, the DOJ has stats, and so on. But maybe you don’t even want stats, maybe you’re looking for an interesting unsolved crime?
So let me know and I will try to help!
43 Margarita Velez // Jun 26, 2011 at 12:26 am
Hello, I’m looking for my grandfather that was murdered in the Bronx. From what my father told my mother my grandfather was murdered in an alley while trying to fight off some thugs that was raping a girl. My father was 5yrs old when this happened so I’m guessing it was back in 1964. I want to say they lived near or around Shakespeare Avenue in the Bronx The spelling of his name I’m not to sure of but I think it’s Demensio or Menecio Velez. My father Alberto Velez born 10-28-59 was also murdered back in 1990, I’m actually speaking to a detective over at the 44th precinct about that case. I guess I’m writing bc my grandfather was married prior to meeting my grandmother and had 2 other kids. If I can just figure out the spelling of my grandfathers name and exactly what happened to him maybe I can find my aunts?
44 Stacy Horn // Jun 26, 2011 at 9:42 am
How terrible that your grandfather, who was a hero, was murdered. And then your father! How awful. I’m so sorry. But you should be able to track down your aunts. Have you mentioned this to the detective at the 44? Because he might be willing to help you. I just checked the Social Security Death Index under those and other spellings and your grandfather didn’t come up, unless the 1964 date is wrong. One guy came up for 1961. http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi
I’m not sure I understand why the detective can’t nail down the spelling and the date. Maybe he has just started working with you? There are so many things you can do though. You can order your grandfather’s death certificate. When you order it you can put both names and note that you are not sure of the spelling, and they will do the best they can. That should get you the correct spelling in the end, and the death certificate will also list his parents, which might be useful to have:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/services/vr-death-general.shtml
But I would suggest starting at the New York Public Library and searching through the Census and other tools using Ancestry.com. Go to the branch at 5th and 42nd Street. They have a genealogy room and the librarians can show you how to do this if you’ve never done it before. It’s all online and easy and you can search on approximations of the name, and learn lots more about your family. While you’re there you can search Proquest and other sources for articles about your grandfather and your father’s murders, any of which might give more clues about your aunts. I explain about Proquest here: https://www.therestlesssleep.com/?p=704
Good luck, and again, I’m very sorry about your grandfather and father.
45 RUDY FERNANDEZ // Jul 25, 2011 at 11:20 am
on may 30th 1980 my sister maria fernandez was raped and strangled in ten eyck williamsburg brooklyn,my mother recieved threats and we moved .i have always wished to know something about her case.thank you
46 Stacy Horn // Jul 26, 2011 at 4:43 pm
I’m so sorry about your sister. Have you spoken to your mother, do you know that it is an unsolved case? If it is, if you look over on the left, at the very top, it says: Getting Help-Contacting a Cold Case Squad. Click on “Before You Contact a Cold Case Squad READ THIS” and read through those instructions. At the end there will be a link to phone numbers to call. I will email this to you as well.
47 rudy fernandez // Jul 27, 2011 at 11:30 am
thank you i wil follow these directions
48 Stacy Horn // Jul 27, 2011 at 1:56 pm
You’re welcome!
49 Juan Peters // Jul 28, 2011 at 12:14 am
trying to find out what happened to my old public school teacher in the bronx P.S 30 was the schools name and i know it was around 1900-1992 she was strangled in her bathtub possibly by her boyfriend i always think of her time 2 time neing that i rem her so well she was also my little brothers active teacher when this hAPPENED i was about 6-7 yrs old wud like some closer her name was ms torro …just dont rem her first name
50 Stacy Horn // Jul 28, 2011 at 7:23 am
You need to research this a little more before contacting anyone. I would suggest starting at the New York Public Library and using Proquest (and other tools). I explain about Proquest here:
https://www.therestlesssleep.com/?p=704
If you’ve never used it before don’t worry, it’s easy and fun and the librarian can help you get started. But check and make sure your branch has it. Not all of them do. I go to the main branch at 42nd and 5th. Once you’ve narrowed down the date and location of your teacher’s unfortunate murder, you can contact the precinct where it occurred and ask for the status of the case. If you look over on the left of this blog, at the very top, it says: Getting Help-Contacting a Cold Case Squad. Click on “Before You Contact a Cold Case Squad READ THIS” and read through those instructions. In your case I would call the precinct and not the Cold Case Squad since you don’t know if it’s a cold case yet, but the instructions will still help you.
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