Thanks to a grant from the US Department of Justice, King County Detectives announced April 1 a “Cold Case” squad has been formed to investigate the nearly 200 unsolved murder and missing person cases over a span of 67 years.

Funded by the National Institute of Justice, the new group is an arm of the Justice Department. The focus of the unit will be on investigating and resolving unsolved homicides and missing person cases. Detectives have identified 193 homicides and missing person cases believed to be homicides, dating back to 1942. Due to the high number, individual cases will face an initial review for solvability factors, including the status of possible suspects, witnesses, and evidence, especially the possibility of DNA evidence.

“I am very pleased with this grant from the National Institute of Justice and the Justice Department”, said Sheriff Sue Rahr. “It is an opportunity to solve some of these cases and bring justice to victims and their families. It is unlikely this would have been possible otherwise.”

The Cold Case Squad gives new impetus to solving cases that have laid dormant at the Sheriff’s Office for years, such as the unsolved Totem Lake murder of 13-year-old resident Patrick Cress in 1983. Investigators re-opened the case in May 2008, technically moving it from “Cold Case” to “active” when it was assigned to King County Det. Mike Mellis. But Patrick’s father, Dick Cress, said creating the Cold Case Squad would give a huge boost to families who weren’t so lucky.

“Well, a lot of people don’t realize this, but elsewhere in the country Cold Case Squads solve or clear 80 percent of cases,” he said. “That’s a hell of a record. They’re already in the process of re-investigating my son’s case. But there are so many other cases to go back through.”

Once a case passes the initial review, it will face a priority screening where it will be reviewed again and presented to a team of people, including cold case detectives, a prosecutor, and depending on the case, other colleagues and experts in a particular field. Other factors to be considered include the threat to the community, likelihood of successful DNA or other forensic testing, repeat offender, cost/benefit analysis of other investigative options, and the general strength of the case.

Cress’ son, a Kamiakin Junior High student, disappeared on April 30, 1983 and was found dead two weeks later by a Puget Sound Energy worker near Totem Lake. The investigation later revealed he was beaten to death. After the case was closed, Cress formed Dignity of Victims Everywhere, or DOVE, and wrote a book, “The Value of a Smile: Victimization 101” to help advocate for support of victim’s families.

When the case was re-opened last year, detectives also made public a cryptic, handwritten note that appeared to reference Patrick’s death. They hoped the evidence might jar some memory of the murder on the eve of a 20th reunion of former classmates from Juanita High School.

“There are things happening, things I can’t really talk about right now,” Cress said. “But we’ll just wait and see – and hope for the best.”

To head-up the new squad, the Sheriff’s Office has re-assigned two homicide detectives, Det. Scott Tompkins and Det. Jake Pavlovich and supported by a crime analyst, Tom Jensen. A retired Sheriff’s Office detective with over 20 years experience, Jensen’s resume includes time spent on the Green River homicides investigation.

In the past, unsolved homicides were investigated by Major Crimes detectives along with their normal case load which includes robberies, kidnappings, and serious assaults. That unit, however, was reduced by three positions as part of the 2009 budget cuts to the Sheriff’s Office.

The grant, worth about $500,000, runs for 18 months and covers the costs of two detectives, an analyst, and miscellaneous expenses associated with those investigations. After the initial 18 months the grant can be renewed, subject to an administrative performance review.