NamUs Cold Case Advisory Process (Large)
Case Submission
A cold case review can be requested in two ways:
- Direct Request: An investigating agency may submit a request through NamUs.
- Cold Case Advisory Recommendation: The Cold Case Advisory Team may recommend a case for review when assessing biometric availability.
If this occurs, the Team Lead evaluates the case’s suitability and reaches out to the investigating agency.
Preparation for Review
Once a case is approved for a multidisciplinary cold case review, the investigating agency may receive a NamUs Multidsciplinary Team Case Review Request Form and Data Use Agreement.
All relevant case materials are compiled for review. Agencies can provide additional records through secure transfer to be included in the review.
Multidisciplinary Team Review
The NamUs Multidisciplinary Team reviews the case details and proceeds with analytical and biometric searches. The Team Lead follows up on outstanding questions with the investigating agency to ensure a streamlined process.
MDT subject matter experts include law enforcement, medicolegal death investigators, DNA analysts, and analytical specialists.
Post Review & Follow Up
The Team Lead schedules a virtual case review meeting with the investigating agency.
The MDT team provides a detailed report to the investigating agency, outlining key findings, recommended forensic testing, investigative leads, and potential resources for further case development.
Afterward, NamUs conducts a post-review to gather feedback and track case progress.