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16th Judicial District Law Enforcement Agencies Teaming To Solve "Cold Cases"!

Aug 05, 2013 at 02:33 pm by Bryan Barrett


Law enforcement leaders from throughout Rutherford and Cannon Counties gathered on the Murfreesboro civic plaza Monday morning (8/5/2013). District Attorney General William Whitesell said guidelines are now in place to allow agencies within the 16th Judicial District to team and solve cold cases.

When asked how many cold cases there are in Rutherford and Cannon Counties, General Whitesell said . . .
 

(above photo) Assistant DA Paul Newman with 16th Judicial District Attorney General Bill Whitsell in the rear.

Assistant District Attorney Paul Newman said the coalition will work on unsolved murders as well as other serious felonies such as aggravated rape.

Newman feels this new affiliation will uncover evidence that brings more cold cases to court . . .
 

General Whitesell credited former Sheriff Truman Jones with forming Rutherford County's first Cold Case Unit back in 2000. So far Detective Major Bill Sharpe and Detective Sergeant Dan Goodwin have cracked  six homicides and one kidnapping cases that were previously unsolved crimes.

Goodwin told WGNS News . . .
 

As Goodwin noted, more than likely someone in the public has information that will enable prosecutors to bring a case to court. 

“We believe working as a team we can bring cases, work those cases and ultimately solve those cases,” General Whitesell said.

Sheriff Robert Arnold donated space in the Criminal Investigations Division to house the coalition.

“This is a great day for law enforcement,” Sheriff Arnold said. “We will collaborate for the victims and the families of these unsolved murders. We believe this partnership will work well.”

Murfreesboro Police Chief Glenn Chrisman said the coalition will bring focus to cold case investigations.

“No doubt we can bring needed closure to victims and surviving family members,” Chief Chrisman said.

Smyrna Police Chief Kevin Arnold said he could not provide a detective to work fulltime with the coalition, but will make every resource of Smyrna Police Department available to bring closure to families.

Like Chief Arnold, Cannon County Sheriff Darrell Young said he did not have the manpower to assign one detective to the coalition but looked forward to working with the team.

La Vergne Police Chief Mike Walker said La Vergne Police had an unsolved murder case where even the victim has not been identified. He hopes someday the victim’s identity will be known for a proper burial.

Prosecutors and officers decided the same team approach could be applied in the judicial district with the support of all law enforcement agencies, he said. The lead investigator will be in charge of the case while investigators from other agencies will assist. That includes the Rutherford County as well as Cannon County Sheriffs Offices, and police departments in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne and Woodbury. 

Anyone with information about unsolved murders may call the law enforcement agency or the District Attorney’s Office at 615-898-8008.

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