Families unite for justice: Cold Case Symposium brings victims’ loved ones together

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s Department of Entomology will partner with the University of North Florida (UNF) to host the third annual Cold Case Symposium on Oct. 22-23 at the Adam W. Herbert University Center on the UNF campus. Building on last year’s event at the Purdue Memorial Union and the 2022 symposium at Arizona State University, this year’s gathering will unite families of victims of unsolved missing person and homicide cases from across the country, offering them a supportive space to share their loved ones’ stories.

Krystal Hans, assistant professor of forensic entomology at Purdue, expressed her enthusiasm for the Cold Case Symposium’s rotating locations, which highlight cold cases from different regions each year. “We try to maximize awareness for cold cases nationwide,” said Hans. “Additionally, since our partner organization, Project: Cold Case, is based in Jacksonville, Florida, we wanted to bring the symposium closer to their home base. We are so proud to partner with Purdue University’s Department of Entomology and the University of North Florida to bring together leading experts, advocates, journalists, detectives and families to share knowledge, resources and stories that often go unheard.”

“This year’s symposium holds personal significance for me, as it comes around the 15th anniversary of my father’s unsolved murder. His case remains a constant reminder of why we do what we do — creating awareness, fostering collaboration and ensuring that no family feels alone in their fight for answers,” said Ryan Backmann, founder and executive director of Project: Cold Case.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, a database funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, reveals that more than 600,000 individuals go missing annually, an alarming number that affects countless families’ lives. In collaboration with Project: Cold Case, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families of unsolved cases, the symposium offers a platform for these families to receive resources and mobilizing support.

"Typically, these type of cold case symposiums are restricted to law enforcement, and families are unable to attend," said Hans. "Because of that, families don’t necessarily have a great relationship with law enforcement. To bridge this gap, we’re creating a network of people — victims’ families, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement and community members — and bringing together different perspectives."

 Speakers scheduled for the upcoming symposium include:

• Allison Nunes — president and laboratory director for DNA Labs International, the second largest private forensic lab in Deerfield Beach, Florida
• Anne Marie Schubert — former district attorney for Sacramento Country, California
• Beth Celestini — retired supervisory special agent with the United States Secret Service and law enforcement strategic partnership and engagement coordinator for the Black and Missing Foundation Inc.
• Charlene “Charlie” Shunick — president and founder of the Resource Association for Missing People, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the families of missing persons
• Dennis Sullivan — detective in the cold case unit of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
• Jesse Goliath — founding director of the Mississippi Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons Project and consulting forensic anthropologist for the state of Mississippi
• Katie Jeffries — anchor and reporter with First Coast News in Jacksonville
• Katie Wiggins — owner of Uprooted: Where Healing is Planted, a Jacksonville-based private practice specializing in attachment and grief counseling
• Loren O’Keeffe — founder and CEO of The Missed Foundation, which seeks to humanize missing individuals and alleviate the practical, emotional and psychological impact on their families and friends
• Nathalie Eckersley — long-term case manager for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children based in the Lake Park, Florida, branch office
• Representatives from organizations such as the Jacksonville Survivors Foundation, First Coast Crime Stoppers and Locate International

The Cold Case Symposium caters to a diverse audience, including students, academics, law enforcement and family members, providing access to expert insights, case information, and opportunities for collaboration and learning.

“Cold case investigations extend beyond forensic science and law enforcement. There’s a lot of advocacy work that needs to be done across various fields, including social work and legal backgrounds,” explained Hans. “We’ve even had librarians who are great at finding documents and locating resources attend. You can come from any background and be able to offer support.”

Ticket prices for the symposium are as follows: one-day in-person tickets are $25 for students, $40 for nonstudents; two-day in-person tickets are $35 for students, $70 for nonstudents; virtual tickets are $15 for students, $25 for nonstudents. Media passes for two-day access are also available for $60.

Family members of cold case victims are eligible for complimentary registration through a sponsorship program provided by Purdue University and Project: Cold Case. If interested in the registration fee waiver, please email Krystal Hans at hans3@purdue.edu. Applicants should include their name, phone number, a brief narrative about their loved one and information on how they learned about the symposium.

For further details on the symposium and to register, visit purdue.ag/coldcase.