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| The cast of Cold Case: a show that depicts the kind of detective work Chamely Gutierez would like to emulate in real life |
By CHAMELY GUTIEREZ
BHSB Journalism Student
If crimes are not solved right away, the evidence is often stored away for a period of time. The detective assigned to the case may not look at it for years. The investigations are now called cold case files. A detective will reopen cold cases years later because more modern technology is available, or new evidence comes to light.
As a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent (click here for my report on my dream to join the FBI), I would enthusiastically welcome the opportunity to close cold case files. That's because the perpetrators need to be brought to justice.
Two cold cases that I look at here are the unsolved investigations of the murder JonBenet Ramsey of the United States and the disappearance of Madeleine Beth McCann of the United Kingdom.
JonBenet Ramsey: The Case
The death of young beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey is a case I would be interested in because of the way it all happened. JonBenet was born August 6, 1990 and died December 25 or 26, 1996. JonBenet was reported missing, but was actually dead in the basement of her house. She was found by her father. When her father found her she had a broken skull and had been strangled to death. Her death was ruled a homicide and her parents and sibling were suspects in the investigation. The police got to the point where they thought that she was murdered by one of her parents and her body was staged to cover it up.
If I Were the Cold Case Detective…
The case was unsolved because the district attorney said there was insufficient evidence to arrest someone. If I were the detective assigned to this case to bring the young girl’s killer to justice, I would look at the street surveillance cameras to see who was in, and who was out of the family home. I would also check the house for anything out of place. But, most importantly, I would study the family well enough to know when they are lying. I would follow their every move until I am satisfied with what I see.
Showing the family pictures of the victim’s body might also help with eliciting a confession. Pressuring the suspects in question is also a good idea because, if they are hiding something, the guilt they have will not allow them to stay quiet and hide the truth.
The death of young beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey is a case I would be interested in because of the way it all happened. JonBenet was born August 6, 1990 and died December 25 or 26, 1996. JonBenet was reported missing, but was actually dead in the basement of her house. She was found by her father. When her father found her she had a broken skull and had been strangled to death. Her death was ruled a homicide and her parents and sibling were suspects in the investigation. The police got to the point where they thought that she was murdered by one of her parents and her body was staged to cover it up.
If I Were the Cold Case Detective…
The case was unsolved because the district attorney said there was insufficient evidence to arrest someone. If I were the detective assigned to this case to bring the young girl’s killer to justice, I would look at the street surveillance cameras to see who was in, and who was out of the family home. I would also check the house for anything out of place. But, most importantly, I would study the family well enough to know when they are lying. I would follow their every move until I am satisfied with what I see.
Showing the family pictures of the victim’s body might also help with eliciting a confession. Pressuring the suspects in question is also a good idea because, if they are hiding something, the guilt they have will not allow them to stay quiet and hide the truth.
Madeleine Beth McCann: The Case
Madeleine Beth McCann was three years old when she went missing. She was born on May 12, 2003 and went missing on May 3, 2007.
Madeleine and her family are from England, but went to Portugal to a resort for the holidays. Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, her younger twin siblings, and a group of family friends and their children were with them. Madeleine and the twins were sleeping at 8:30 p.m. in an apartment in Praia da Luz when the parents left to get dinner in a restaurant that was located 50 meters away. Her parents checked on her throughout the evening, but her mother noticed she was missing at 10:00 p.m. The Portuguese police believed that it was an abduction, but, after they misinterpreted a British DNA test, they thought that she died in the apartment. Her parents were suspects in the investigation until the attorney-general cleared them. The parents hired private investigators to continue with the search.
If I Were the Cold Case Detective…
First, I would question everyone who was there that night in order to get some useful information. Second, I would search for any cameras in the area that would help me see if anyone outside the family entered the room while no one was there to abduct the girl.
Madeleine Beth McCann was three years old when she went missing. She was born on May 12, 2003 and went missing on May 3, 2007.
Madeleine and her family are from England, but went to Portugal to a resort for the holidays. Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, her younger twin siblings, and a group of family friends and their children were with them. Madeleine and the twins were sleeping at 8:30 p.m. in an apartment in Praia da Luz when the parents left to get dinner in a restaurant that was located 50 meters away. Her parents checked on her throughout the evening, but her mother noticed she was missing at 10:00 p.m. The Portuguese police believed that it was an abduction, but, after they misinterpreted a British DNA test, they thought that she died in the apartment. Her parents were suspects in the investigation until the attorney-general cleared them. The parents hired private investigators to continue with the search.
If I Were the Cold Case Detective…
First, I would question everyone who was there that night in order to get some useful information. Second, I would search for any cameras in the area that would help me see if anyone outside the family entered the room while no one was there to abduct the girl.
Final Thought
Being an FBI agent is not just about solving cases to me, it’s more about doing things right and making the world a better and safer place.
Chamely Gutierez is Dominican, and came to New York when she was three years old. It was hard for her mother because she was working and raising two girls on her own. Chamely is proud she is still going to school and, even though she says she makes mistakes, she is confident she is still growing. Click here to see Chamely's article on why she wants to become an FBI agent.
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