About the calaveras Cold Case Task Force

In 2020, the Calaveras Sheriff’s Office formed a Cold Case Team to review and solve cases that have gone “cold” throughout the years. It is believed that a fresh look at evidence and cases could solve homicides, missing person cases, and identify human remains that have remained unidentified despite the best efforts of law enforcement. The Cold Case Team quickly realized that modern scientific analysis would be a game changer in solving cases.

DNA analysis has advanced dramatically within the last decades, and cutting-edge laboratories are now able to achieve incredible results. In order to tap into these invaluable resources, funding was necessary. While California Department of Justice Laboratories do provide some services free of charge, almost all of the new advancements in forensic analysis are only conducted by private laboratories. The Calaveras Cold Case Team accepted donations through FOCSO (Friends of the Calaveras Sheriff’s Office) for several years to meet this need. However, in early 2024, the Cold Case Team began making plans for creating a new nonprofit organization dedicated solely to their mission.

In 2024, the Calaveras Cold Case Task Force (CCTF) was formed and is dedicated solely to advancing the efforts of solving cold cases in Calaveras County.  These cases would not be solved without the renewed efforts of the team and the funding provided by donations. Donations go toward specialized DNA analysis, forensic genetic genealogy identification, and scientific forensic analysis of evidence items.

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With an independent Board of Directors, the CCTF is committed to integrity in all financial matters. 

All donors can rest assured knowing that their donations are used for the purposes intended. The Board is 100% volunteer, and no member of the Board or any person on the team benefits from donated funds. 

Dedicated to the highest integrity, the Board oversees and approves all expenses, including forensic services, DNA analysis, and fundraising activities. 

The Board volunteers their time and efforts because of their passion and dedication to the mission of the Calaveras Cold Case Task Force. 

The Cold Case Task Force is comprised of Detectives, Investigators, forensic experts, and volunteers who contribute to the overall furtherance of a case. Investigation efforts are led by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office and assisted by the Calaveras County District Attorney Investigators and other local law enforcement agencies. 

The Team has been fortunate to receive assistance from prestigious forensic anthropologists and other experts who have donated their services and skills on a pro bono basis.

The investigation team works to discover new leads, examine evidence, re-interview witnesses, and utilize advancements in forensic science to analyze evidence that may yield new revelations and tell their secrets. 

Identifying human remains that were never identified is also a monumental task for the team. Many unidentified human remains exist in Calaveras County, and the team believes these victims deserve to claim their name, have their lives remembered, and be laid to rest by their loved ones.