According to Chief Karl Oakman, the cold case unit of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department has made significant strides in solving cases that date back to 1979. The unit has been able to identify suspects in 11 homicides, as reported by a recent article.
According to Oakman, three cases have been presented to the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether charges should be filed.
During a presentation about the police department’s fresh initiatives, Oakman informed the Unified Government’s Board of Commissioners that detectives are currently carrying out a more in-depth investigation to identify which other cases can be presented for criminal charges.
In June of 2021, just a week after being sworn in as chief, Oakman made a significant announcement. He shared his plans to establish a cold case unit, which officially began operations in January of 2022. The unit is made up of three full-time detectives who are committed to solving long-standing cases.
According to Nancy Chartrand, a spokesperson for the police department, they cannot disclose the cases mentioned by Oakman as it may put them at risk. This statement was made on Friday.
According to Chartrand, the identification of suspects in 11 homicide cases since the unit’s inception is a remarkable achievement, considering that some of these cases had remained unsolved for many years. She further added that those who believe that they have escaped justice will soon realize that they are mistaken. In other words, they will be disappointed to know that the long arm of the law has finally caught up with them.
Chartrand emphasized that the families of the victims will always be their top priority, no matter how much time has passed since their loved ones were taken from them.
Wyandotte County activists have been advocating for a cold case unit to investigate the unsolved murders of primarily Black women. As per the report, the demand for the unit has been specific and urgent. The activists believe that such an investigation will help bring closure to the families affected by these brutal incidents. The community’s demand for justice is a testament to their resilience and determination to seek accountability for the heinous crimes committed against their loved ones.
In 1998, Rhonda Tribue, who was 33 years old, was murdered and her case gained attention in 2021 when the FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for any information that could lead to a conviction. Rhonda was residing in KCK when she was found dead in the 500 block of South 94th Street near Edwardsville. The FBI’s announcement has brought renewed hope that justice will be served for Rhonda and her loved ones.
According to Melissa Underwood, who is a representative from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and is working alongside the FBI, the case of Tribue’s homicide remains an ongoing investigation.
In May, Underwood emphasized the importance of anyone coming forward with even the slightest piece of information that could assist law enforcement in resolving the case.
According to a recent review of the case file by The Star, KCK detectives focused on a drug dealer who was believed to have been in a relationship with Tribue at the time of her murder. The police searched his truck, but no charges were filed against him.
Upon the announcement of the creation of the cold case unit, the department highlighted the fact that only 7% of law enforcement agencies have a specialized unit for solving cold cases. According to Oakman, there are approximately 285 unsolved homicides spanning over five decades in KCK that could potentially benefit from a thorough and comprehensive review.
During the meeting on Thursday, Oakman reported a decrease in certain types of crimes in comparison to the same period last year. He mentioned that homicides and rapes have decreased by 38% and 39%, respectively. This means that 18 killings have occurred this year, compared to 29 at this point in 2022.
Oakman announced several updates, one of which is that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has pledged to send the department four agents in order to create a team focused on investigating illicit firearms.
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