They call themselves Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons (FOHVAMP) and their mission is in part to console and soothe those who have lost loved ones to violence. In a larger sense, they exist to help people pursue justice for these unsolved and sometimes forgotten crimes.
Last weekend the group held a convocation bringing many of their members from across the country to Denver for workshops and panel discussions featuring representatives from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and many metro area police departments. Among these were workshops covering how to manage your cold case, options in civil justice, how crime labs work and victim assistance.
In addition to those participating in the panel discussions, numerous area detectives and law enforcement personnel were also in attendance in a show of support to the victims of unsolved homicides and missing persons.
There are nearly 1,300 cold cases in Colorado, created when the detective assigned to the case moves on to another job, retires or passes away. Murder and suspicious disappearances remain open cases until solved, but most resources are focused on the immediate threats to the community – more recent crimes. Still, the perpetrators of these unsolved homicides live among us even today.
“Seven of ten murders are solved,” Howard Morton, the organization’s founder said. “We are concerned with the other three.”
The members in attendance asked questions of the enforcement agencies during a seminar titled Cold Case Investigations. The session covered investigative techniques, forensic processes and the status of particular cases. One woman asked about the unsolved murder of Jessica Bajarano, shot while driving down the street on April 7, 2007. An agent familiar with case said it was still under investigation, but could reveal nothing more.
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