What Are Cold Cases? Why So Many Crimes Go Unsolved in the U.S.
There are crimes that shock a town. Others, a nation. But the ones that fade into silence – those are the cold cases. Unsolved crimes that fall through the cracks, the ones nobody forgets but everyone stops talking about. They pile up. Quietly. And most never get solved.
This article breaks down what exactly cold cases are, how many exist in the United States, and why so many remain open. We’ll also cover the renewed efforts to solve them, and how organizations and everyday people are helping. If you’ve ever wondered why some crimes never find justice, this is where it begins.
What Defines a “Cold Case”?
A cold case is a criminal investigation – usually a serious one like a murder or missing person – that remains unsolved for an extended period of time. No arrests. No leads. No closure. But it’s more than just time passing. A case becomes “cold” when all known investigative leads have been exhausted. The trail goes dark.
Police departments don’t have a universal timeline. Some consider a case cold after a year with no progress. Others, sooner. What’s consistent is the status: it hasn’t been solved, but it’s not closed either. These are unsolved cases, and they sit in files, sometimes for decades, waiting for something to shake loose.
Think of famous unsolved crimes you’ve heard of – a vanishing, a murder with no suspect, a scene that never made sense. Chances are, if nobody was charged and years have passed, it’s considered a cold case.[/vc_column_text]
This question gets asked a lot. And the answer is rough. According to FBI data, the United States has more than 250,000 unsolved homicides since the 1980s. That’s a staggering number of families still waiting for answers.
Every year, law enforcement solves fewer and fewer homicides. In the 1960s, the murder clearance rate was around 90%. Today, it floats closer to 50% nationally. That means half of all murder cases in the U.S. go unsolved. And those unsolved cases in the US keep adding up.
It’s not just homicides either. Missing persons. Sexual assaults. Violent crimes without resolution. All of these can fall into the category of cold case investigations once they stall.
If you search for how many unsolved murders in the US, the stats don’t just feel like data. They feel like lost lives – left in limbo.
There isn’t one answer. But there are patterns.
– Lack of evidence – Sometimes a scene is just… unhelpful. No witnesses. No DNA. Nothing usable to trace the crime back to someone.
– Witness silence – People forget. Or they stay quiet. In some neighborhoods, fear or distrust of police means no one talks, even if they know what happened.
– Overworked departments – Some police forces are stretched thin. Cold cases get shelved for more urgent (recent) investigations.
– Technology gaps – In the past, investigators didn’t have access to the forensics we do now. Some cases stalled simply because the tools didn’t exist.
Put simply, why cases go cold isn’t always about incompetence. Sometimes it’s just… human limits. Resources. Timing. Bad luck. And the longer it drags out, the harder it is to fix.
Here’s the part that isn’t hopeless.
In recent years, tech and persistence have started cracking these cases wide open. We’ve seen cold cases solved after 20, 30, even 50 years. And the trend is growing.
DNA technology is at the heart of it. With better lab work, genetic genealogy, and national databases like CODIS, investigators can now match tiny traces of evidence to people who were never suspects. In some cases, it’s a relative’s DNA that breaks it open.
Databases and digitization are helping too. What used to sit in dusty filing cabinets is now searchable, sharable, and scannable. Old tips resurface. New connections get made. Even amateur sleuths are contributing (responsibly) through platforms like NamUs or the Murder Accountability Project.
And then there’s the human factor. Some cold case squads work quietly for years on the same file. Some detectives come out of retirement to finish what they started. There’s a quiet movement here: solving unsolved cases matters. It’s not just about closure. It’s about making sure the forgotten don’t stay that way.
If you’re looking to dig deeper or get involved, here are some of the most trusted names in the cold case space:
– NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) – Government database of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons. Public can contribute.
– Murder Accountability Project – Tracks unsolved homicides and allows data-based analysis. Used by journalists, police, and public.
– State-based Cold Case Units – Many state and county police agencies now have dedicated teams for cold case investigations. Their info is usually online and updated.
– FBI Seeking Information Page – Lists current cases where public help is needed.
Final Thoughts: Why Cold Cases Still Matter
These aren’t just statistics. Every cold case is a person. A family. A story cut short without justice. The more we understand about unsolved cases in the US, the better we can push for answers – and maybe, just maybe, help solve them.
Want to read about real breakthroughs? Check out our 5 Cold Cases Solved After Decades – where persistence paid off.
For current investigations, visit our Criminal Chronicles section where we track cold cases in real time.
What’s the oldest cold case still open?
One of the oldest known cold cases is the 1946 murder of Elizabeth Short, also known as the Black Dahlia. It remains officially unsolved.
Do police still investigate cold cases?
Yes. Many departments have cold case units or reopen files when new evidence surfaces. Some cases are also reviewed when tech advances allow.
Can cold cases be solved by the public?
Sometimes. Public tips, especially when based on new information or personal knowledge, have solved many cases. Just be careful not to interfere in active investigations.
How can I learn more about a specific cold case?
Sites like NamUs and Websleuths host detailed information and community discussions. You can also check police department websites for updates.