Exploring Cold Case Homicide Survivors’ Perceptions of and Relationships With Law Enforcement

Abstract

Given the nature of unsolved homicide, a complicated dynamic exists between survivors of cold case homicides and law enforcement personnel. The current study utilizes interviews with 24 survivors to explore the perceptions associated with this relationship. Employing a grounded theory framework, we find several themes depicted within these narratives that guide survivors’ overall perceptions of their relationship with law enforcement, including investigative and communication efforts. Results indicate that the survivors universally perceive original detectives were incompetent or ineffective in their original investigation, thus leading to the unsolved status of their case. Over time, secondary and current investigators were also perceived as unable to properly investigate, due to challenges such as insufficient evidence or simply not conducting a comprehensive examination of the case. Regardless of this negative view of police activity on the case, relationships were defined by the level and nature of communication survivors had with their detective. Families who felt listened to, included, and/or valued reported a positive relationship with police that allowed them to trust their case was in good hands. Participants who perceived communication to be secretive, misleading, or completely absent noted strained relationships and further disappointment. Survivors may adopt roles, such as investigator, spokesperson, or advocate, to help compensate for their perception that the case is not properly cared for by police. With regard to grief progress and health of cold case homicide survivors, it is possible treatment by law enforcement outweighs the significant of case resolution years after the homicide. Recommendations for more productive survivor/police interactions are included.

Neighborhood variation in unsolved homicides: a retrospective cohort study in Indianapolis, Indiana, 2007–2017

“…This notion of improved relationships and communication with residents, is an important avenue for homicide detectives as well during the homicide investigation. Family members of homicide victims (i.e., homicide survivors) reported a positive relationship with and trust in police when they felt listened to and had open communication with the homicide detective on their case (Wellman & Meitl, 2020). Unsolved cases leaves survivors to feel that their loved one has been forgotten or overlooked and leaves : 2007-2008 many feeling dissatisfied with the justice system (Stretesky et al, 2010).…”

“…Unsolved cases leaves survivors to feel that their loved one has been forgotten or overlooked and leaves : 2007-2008 many feeling dissatisfied with the justice system (Stretesky et al, 2010). Community-wide forums where homicide detectives, homicide survivors, and other important parties come together to discuss the cases, may help family members feel heard, respected, and their family member remembered; which may be as important as solving the case (Wellman & Meitl, 2020;Stretesky et al, 2016). Beyond the importance of the relationship between the police and residents may be the historical context of the neighborhoods.…”

“…Future work should gather narratives from the neighborhood residents, such as the work on homicide survivors, which highlights the continued trauma and lack of legitimacy in law enforcement when homicide cases go unsolved (Wellman & Meitl, 2020;Stretesky et al, 2016;Stretesky et al, 2010). Additional work should further explore the social dynamics associated with concentrated unsolved homicides to better understand the broader health implications on disadvantaged communities with high levels of violence.…”

“…Homicide cases are more likely to be solved when witnesses and residents provide information to the police (Litwin, 2004;Riedel, 2008), however, noncooperation can be driven by fear (Riedel, 2008), or lack of trust in the police (Regoeczi & Jarvis, 2013). Unsolved homicides may continue the cycle of violence through retaliation (Cook & Ludwig, 2019), contributes to the trauma that family members of homicide survivors' experience (Wellman & Meitl, 2020;Stretesky et al, 2016;Stretesky et al, 2010;Simmons et al, 2014), and arguably to the larger communities, as homicides spread across communities much like an infectious disease (Zeoli et al, 2012). Low homicide clearance rates (i.e., homicide arrest rates within communities) are associated with economic disadvantage, residential instability, and lack of collective efficacy (Regoeczi & Jarvis, 2013;Mancik et al, 2018;Litwin & Xu, 2007).…”

Benefits of scenario reconstruction in cold case investigations

“…A very recent study showed that 24 survivors of cold cases (i.e. relatives of the deceased) perceived detectives of the initial and follow-up investigations as rather incompetent or ineffective (Wellman and Meitl, 2020). Although this study looked at cold cases in the USA, we can assume that similar feelings are harboured by Dutch survivors, which would reflect unfavourably on Dutch Criminal Investigation Department detectives.…”