CHARLESTON, W.Va.. — Measure creating database of unsolved crimes at West Virginia Fusion Center becomes law.
mike oliverio
Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, a co-sponsor of the bill, said there is a need to organize and preserve cold case information in case new information or a confession could reopen a case. Oliverio said the data we have on these cases will also prevent officials from having to retrace the steps of others or their own to restart an investigation.
“What we need is a consistent place, regardless of the people involved trying to solve the case, where the data can be stored and then collected so that the case can be solved,” Oliverio said.
Many states across the country are already employing a similar procedure with success. Retaining and preserving evidence also allows detectives to maximize the availability of new technologies as they are implemented.
“So there remain unsolved violent crimes, sexual crimes, missing persons and matters involving unidentified human remains,” Oliverio said. “All of that data will be stored in West Virginia.”
Starting Sunday, the repository for all unsolved case information for the state’s 55 counties will be the Fusion Center, located at Marshall University. The database will be available to agencies across the state and will be managed by the Fusion Center.
“All law enforcement agencies, prosecutors’ offices and sheriff’s offices will be required to submit information when they cannot solve a case so that other law enforcement officers, prosecutors and others who come after will have the necessary information.”
Oliverio said the new system and procedure could help clarify a number of unidentified deceased people and, in many cases, allow families to begin the healing process.
“We have about 38 people who have not been identified, and to the extent that this database of unsolved cases and the collection of all this information could identify some of those people and provide closure to the families,” he said Oliverio.
Lawmakers failed to pass a measure introduced by Oliverio that would have required a cheek swab for an adult arrested for felony violence against someone, robbery or a case involving a minor.
“I just want to stay involved in helping solve these cold cases and put as much data as we can in a place where law enforcement can easily access it and try to solve these cases and identify these remains.”
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