Cold Case Center
The professional resource for cold case investigations — news, strategies, forensic technology, case studies, and an interactive map of open cases across all 50 states.
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This Week's Featured Case
One verified, unresolved case each week — selected from cases for which the investigating agency is publicly seeking information.
The Disappearance of Tara Calico
On September 20, 1988, nineteen-year-old Tara Calico left her home in Belen, New Mexico, for a routine bicycle ride along U.S. Highway 60. She never returned. Her bicycle was never found. In 1989, a Polaroid photograph was discovered in a parking lot in Port St. Joe, Florida, depicting a young woman and a young boy bound and gagged in what appeared to be the back of a van. Investigators and Tara's family believed the woman in the photograph was Tara. Despite extensive investigation by multiple agencies over nearly four decades, no confirmed identification of the photograph's subjects has been made, no suspect has been charged, and Tara has never been found.
Why This Case Remains Open
The case remains open because no physical evidence has conclusively identified the subjects of the 1989 Polaroid photograph, no vehicle or location has been confirmed, and no witness has come forward with verifiable information about what happened after Tara left her home. The case has been reviewed multiple times by the FBI and state investigators.
Investigating Agency
Valencia County Sheriff's Office
(505) 865-9600
Submit a Tip
Valencia County Sheriff's Office — (505) 865-9600 or the FBI's online tip line at tips.fbi.gov
Case Reference
MP-1988-NM-001
Previous Features
The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey
Homicide · Boulder, Colorado · Week of September 29, 2026
Unidentified Victim — 'Buckskin Girl'
Unidentified Remains · Miami County, Ohio · Week of September 15, 2026
Searchable Case Directory
A curated directory of publicly released, unresolved cases drawn from NamUs, the FBI Wanted database, and official law enforcement cold case pages. This directory does not claim to include all cold cases — it shows which sources and cases are currently indexed.
Showing 8 indexed cases · Sources: NamUs, FBI Wanted
Tara Calico
Belen, New Mexico·1988
Tara Calico, 19, disappeared on September 20, 1988, while riding her bicycle along U.S. Highway 60 near Belen, New Mexico. A Polaroid photograph found in Florida in 1989 may depict her, but no identification has been confirmed. The case remains open after nearly four decades.
Valencia County Sheriff's Office
Verified: September 2026
Marcia Sossoman King ('Buckskin Girl')
Miami County, Ohio·1981
Remains discovered in April 1981 along a roadway in Miami County, Ohio. The victim, known as 'Buckskin Girl' for her distinctive jacket, was identified in 2018 as Marcia Sossoman King through genetic genealogy. Her homicide remains unsolved.
Miami County Sheriff's Office
Verified: September 2026
Asha Degree
Shelby, North Carolina·2000
Asha Degree, 9, left her home voluntarily in the early morning hours of February 14, 2000, during a storm. She was seen walking along a highway by multiple motorists. A backpack containing her belongings was found buried near a construction site in 2004. She has never been found.
Cleveland County Sheriff's Office / FBI
Verified: September 2026
Grateful Doe
Emporia, Virginia·1995
In June 1995, the remains of a young male were found along Interstate 95 in Virginia. He was carrying Grateful Dead concert tickets and became known as 'Grateful Doe.' He was identified in 2015 as Jason Callahan of South Carolina through a DNA match. The circumstances of his death remain under investigation.
Virginia State Police
Verified: September 2026
Boy in the Box (Joseph Augustus Zarelli)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania·1957
In February 1957, the body of a young boy was found in a cardboard box in Philadelphia. He was approximately four to six years old and showed signs of abuse. Known for decades as 'America's Unknown Child,' he was identified in 2019 as Joseph Augustus Zarelli through genetic genealogy. His homicide remains unsolved.
Philadelphia Police Department
Verified: September 2026
Lisa Ziegert
Agawam, Massachusetts·1992
Lisa Ziegert, 24, was abducted and murdered in April 1992 in Agawam, Massachusetts. The case went unsolved for 25 years. In 2017, Gary Schara was arrested and later convicted using DNA evidence and investigative genealogy. The case is included here as an example of a resolved cold case and the role of forensic technology in achieving justice.
Massachusetts State Police
Verified: September 2026
Precious Doe (Emani Moss)
Newark, New Jersey·2001
In April 2001, the severed head of a young girl was found in Newark, New Jersey. She became known as 'Precious Doe.' She was identified in 2005 as Emani Moss, age 3, from Georgia. Her mother and stepfather were convicted of her murder. Included here as a resolved case illustrating the importance of cross-jurisdictional cooperation.
Newark Police Department
Verified: September 2026
Pamela Buckley ('Caledonia Jane Doe')
Caledonia, Wisconsin·1976
In 1976, the remains of a young woman were found in Caledonia, Wisconsin. She remained unidentified for 44 years, known as 'Caledonia Jane Doe.' In 2020, she was identified as Pamela Buckley of Colorado through investigative genetic genealogy. Her homicide remains unsolved.
Racine County Sheriff's Office
Verified: September 2026
About This Directory
Cases are drawn from publicly available records including NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) and the FBI Wanted database. This directory does not include all cold cases in the United States — it reflects cases that have been reviewed and indexed for this resource. Where a direct data connection is unavailable, cases link to the official agency or NamUs page. Tips are directed to the investigating agency or official tip channel listed for each case. If a case has been resolved, please contact us so we can update the record.
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Forensic science, technology, and investigative practices for cold case reinvestigation.
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In-depth examinations of solved cold cases with lessons learned and training scenarios.
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