The Criminal Justice Institute has launched a pioneering Cold Case Internship Program with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Chester County Detective Bureau. This first-of-its-kind initiative gives students the rare opportunity to contribute directly to a specific homicide investigation: an unsolved Pennsylvania case that has remained open for four years. The case details are confidential, but the work is urgent and impactful.

Interns are diving into every facet of the investigation. They’re re-examining original police reports, combing through evidence files, revisiting witness accounts, and reviewing earlier suspect profiles to uncover gaps or missed leads. They’re analyzing phone data, email records, and social media activity to trace digital patterns that may shed new light on the victim’s final days or the suspect’s movements.

By examining the victim’s background, habits, and relationships, interns gain insight into possible motives and identify individuals with the wherewithal to commit the crime. They also support forensic efforts — reviewing DNA findings, fingerprint evidence, and other lab-based analyses as they become available. As they map out key locations tied to the case, students apply geographic profiling strategies to identify possible links between the crime scene and suspect behavior.

Community engagement is another component of the program. Interns help manage outreach efforts, tapping into tip lines and social media platforms to encourage the public to share information. Interviews with witnesses and family members are being re-evaluated, offering a second look at past conversations and new insights that may have been overlooked.

This meaningful, far-reaching work provides invaluable experience for interns seeking to distinguish themselves in law enforcement. With more than 20,000 unresolved homicide and missing persons cases in the tri-state area — and an estimated 270,000 across the country — it’s clear there is no shortage of work to be done.

“Plus, Wilmington University students have the opportunity to transition from an internship in the Cold Case program to a newly formed Cold Case Club,” says recently retired CJI Director Dr. Ray Carr. “Both the internship and the club aim to assist in researching and analyzing unsolved cases, collaborating with law enforcement and forensic experts, and providing students with hands-on experience in criminal investigations. The club will continue to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical research, and public awareness about unsolved crimes.”

The program, which is helping to fill a significant gap in resources, is a powerful form of hands-on learning and a meaningful contribution to the pursuit of justice. The initiative combines education with purpose, giving students a chance to make a difference — in their professional journeys and in the lives of families who have longed for truth, closure, and healing. 

— Maria Hess