NMU, MSP Cold Case Seminar expands after increase in state funding

What's happening: Michigan State Police will receive twice as much help to try and solve cold cases in the Upper Peninsula. Northern Michigan University’s Criminal Justice Department will be able to double the number of students working with the MSP as they review cold cases of homicides or missing persons that occurred in the region. Funding comes from a $200,000 boost in the recently approved state budget. 

Before the expansion, cold case reviews were limited to eight students at a time in a seminar. After the funding boost, NMU can expand to two sections each semester. Since two sections are available, two separate cases will be covered, increasing the chances that the break in the case could come from the classroom.

Revisiting cold cases: While investigations can come to a halt for various reasons, reviewing older cases for new leads can create another chance at justice. The Upper Peninsula has had a number of cases that remain unsolved, but improvements in technology, procedure and new investigators with fresh approaches to the evidence can make a major difference. The most famous cold case recently solved in the U.P. was the heartbreaking Baby Garnet case in Mackinac County, where a woman was charged in the death of an infant left at Garnet Lake State Forest in 1997. Advancements in DNA technology allowed local investigators to review evidence, prompting the charges.

Similar collaborations between universities and the MSP have also solved cold cases. NMU said its program is similar to one at Western Michigan University, where their cold case program helped solve the 1987 murder of a Berrien County woman. 

What they're saying: “It's a win-win on multiple levels,” said Instructor Christopher MacMaster — a 25-year veteran of the MSP. “The experiential learning our students receive by working with MSP detectives to give a real cold case a fresh look enhances their career preparation and sets them apart, making them more competitive in the job market. The MSP and victims' families benefit from the actionable leads students have developed to move the investigations forward; some are awaiting forensic analysis and follow-up. This program is also a great way for the MSP or other agencies to recruit new employees.”

What's next: NMU is working on selecting which students will be able to join the program, as they will undergo a background check and have to adhere to MSP policies and security standards. After the students are selected, they will start the class in the fall semester.