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Hinckley Forum panel on cold cases: investigators urge prompt reporting, outline limits of forensics and family outreach
Summary
At a University of Utah Hinckley Institute forum, Detective Ben Pender and attorney Aubrey Davis described how technological advances have helped investigate long-unsolved homicides, cautioned that older evidence and witness loss often limit results, and urged families to report concerns promptly and use advocacy resources.
At a Hinckley Institute forum at the University of Utah, Detective Ben Pender of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office and attorney Aubrey Davis of Utah Homicide Survivors said cold-case work combines painstaking investigative work, evolving forensic techniques, and sensitive family outreach.
"They're really unsolved cases," Detective Pender said when asked to define a cold case, adding that a case is not considered "cold" at his office if detectives are still actively pursuing testing or interviews. He noted that many older investigations lack modern surveillance and that witnesses or earlier detectives are often deceased or unavailable, which complicates inquiries.
The panel focused on three practical takeaways. First, investigators and advocates said families should report…
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