Melissa RossFamilies in Florida who have lost loved ones murders that remain unsolved often press in vain for authorities to re-examine their “cold cases.”
Duval County alone has more than 1,200 unsolved murders dating back to 1970. Jacksonville resident Ryan Blackman, who lost his father to an unknown killer, has set up an online database in an effort to make sure these many forgotten victims find justice.
And Blackman’s Project Cold Case has an ally in State Sen. Aaron Bean.
“We’ve got to give families hope,” said Bean, who co-sponsored a bill last year aimed at helping to solve cold case murders in Florida.
After the Session, Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $50,000 that would have created a Florida cold case task force. The vetoed proposal was based on a similar effort Colorado enacted in 2007.
Look for Bean to try again to reintroduce the legislation.
“They say the FOURTH time is the charm when it comes to these things,” Bean told WJCT.
