Contact: Elaine Tricoli
Phone: (336) 373-2421

Police Department Highlights Cold Cases on Website

GREENSBORO, NC – (September 5, 2008) – As part of an initiative called “Solving Cold Cases with DNA,” the Greensboro Police Department is highlighting unsolved murders on its website at www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/Police/coldcases/.
 
A listing of the 84 unsolved cases, some dating back to 1969, were added to the department’s website this morning, along with monthly “featured cases” that provide additional details in an effort to enlist the public’s help in finding those responsible for the crimes.
 
Through the “Solving Cold Cases with DNA” program, officers in the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) thoroughly review cases with potential DNA evidence, updating the files with information on witnesses, victims, and anyone with knowledge about the crimes.
 
“On many of these cases, we know that there are people out there who have information about who committed these homicides,” said Capt. Janice Rogers, head of the CID. “By putting these cases on our website, we’re making that extra effort to keep these cases in the public eye in the hopes that someone out there will come forward and help us get them solved.”

The “Solving Cold Cases with DNA” program began in January 2008 after the GPD received a grant for $310,800 from the US Department of Justice to fund the initiative. The funds are used for overtime pay, training and travel expenses. The Police Department is focusing its efforts not only on unsolved homicides, but also on unsolved rapes and aggravated assaults.

One of the first successes of the program was the arrest of Anthony Jermaine Powell, who was charged with burglary and sexual assault in connection with an incident that occurred in 2002 on Hicks Court. The assault was one of several that occurred in Greensboro in 2002 and 2003, and DNA evidence linked Powell to the Hicks Court incident. Rogers said additional charges against Powell may be forthcoming.

The homicide cases listed on the website are categorized by decade, with the oldest being the murder of Willie Grimes on May 22, 1969 to the most recent, the death of James Hope on May 14, 2008. Featured cases this month are Joe Parker Jr. and James Pruitt.

Joe Parker was shot on August 2, 1996 while driving his vehicle on Highway 68. James Pruitt was found dead in his Camel Street home on August 20, 1995. The cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Police encourage anyone with information about any of the unsolved cases to call Crime Stoppers at 373-1000. Crime Stoppers pays a cash reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of those responsible. All calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential.

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The City of Greensboro works in partnership with the community to build an increased quality of life for all residents by fostering an environment where inclusion, diversity, and trust are valued. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a dedicated professional staff of 2700 employees who maintain four core values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City of Greensboro is governed by a council-manager form of government where a mayor and eight council members act as the legislative body. For more information on the City of Greensboro, please visit us online at www.greensboro-nc.gov.