Progress being made
on unsolved crimes
Congratulations on the great work by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and the Hawaii Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigations Section for working diligently to bring justice for Kaycee Smith and her family after 14 years.
Successfully prosecuting violent crimes that occurred years ago is nothing new. Homicides are one the most challenging crimes any experienced investigator and seasoned prosecutor is tasked with.
One of the most overlooked component of any violent crime that remains unsolved or unadjudicated are the survivors and families, who’ve suffered the initial loss and trauma at the time of the crime or may have also been a surviving victim. In any event, their suffering and anguish is prolonged while the case remains unsolved or unadjudicated, and oftentimes continues even after a conviction.
Many violent crime investigations go and remain unsolved when the investigator has exhausted all viable leads that would lead toward resolution. These cases become even more challenging as time passes. Witnesses accounts change, they may pass away, or they may become uncooperative, and aged evidence or documents can be misplaced or destroyed.
The term “cold case” was coined in the 1980s and was generally defined as a case goes “cold” when all investigative leads have been exhausted, with the case remaining unsolved for a period of three years.
The public and the media continue to use the term “cold case,” as they see and hear this regularly on true crime stories amid their fascination with such cases.
Law enforcement is slowly transitioning away from the term and have instead used “unsolved homicides” or “unsolved violent crimes” primarily in consideration of survivors and families. “Cold case” had a negative connotation for survivors, as it sometimes gives the impression that their case is now “shelved” or not being actively investigated.
In light of staffing shortages, law enforcement agencies have committed personnel and forensic resources to revisiting their unsolved crimes.
It is hoped it now gives the survivors some hope for resolution and justice.
The Hawaii Police Department has recognized the absolute need to review and analyze many of the unsolved crimes by assigning one well-experienced detective to these cases. In addition, summaries of some of the unsolved crimes being investigated are posted on their website under the link to “Unsolved Homicides.”
Mayor Mitch Roth likely misspoke when he refers to the Kaycee Smith case as “when this came in, it was a cold case.” He made similar references to the Peter “Peter Boy” Kema Jr. case when as the prosecutor, his office received the case after previous referrals. To his credit, the latter was finally adjudicated during his term as prosecutor.
Two different and very complex cases, both with suspects identified early in the initial phases of the investigation. After years of perseverance, forensic examinations and follow up investigations, combined with excellent teams of prosecutors, both cases ended with successful resolutions.
It’s hoped that the violent crime cases that include homicides and attempted homicide cases currently with the prosecutor can achieve the same successes.
Keep up the incredible work!
Greg Esteban
Past president, International Homicide Investigators Association
More ‘local style’
leadership needed
Fun fact. Do you realize that for the first time in the state of Hawaii history, all four major county police departments — this being Hawaii, Honolulu, Maui and Kauai — has no current police chief with Hawaiian ancestry?
I guess in this day and age, there are no more viable “local boy” (or girl) police chief candidates that can effectively lead our island law enforcement agencies anymore. With all the crime rates and vacancies soaring in the respective police counties, maybe it’s time that we should go back to a local style type of police leadership that understands our local wants and needs.
What do you think?
Don’t get me wrong here. I’m not a racist, as my other half has blue eyes.
Prentiss Moreno
Hilo
