DeLand, FL - A brand new tool from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office will hopefully help them close a number of cold case homicides.
VCSO debuted the tool earlier today on Twitter, announcing the creation of an interactive map with locations of different cold case homicides throughout Volusia County, making them publically available to view.
Andrew Gant, the spokesperson and public information officer for VCSO, says the map is a good way to make a lot of cold cases publically known.
"Over the years we've had different methods of keeping this cases in the public eye to some extent," Gant said. "This is just applying a little modern technology to some cases that have been cold for years."
According to Gant, the map is interactive, letting the user zoom in and out of specific parts of Volusia County, or whatever zone interests them, and each section has different cold cases available to view.
When the user clicks on the case they wish to view, they're given specific detail relating to that case such as clues that have already been discovered as well as previous information that they have gathered.
Gant says that if a user feels they might have some more information on a case, they can actually submit tips to the VCSO Cold Case Unit. Users can email tips to
ColdCaseUnitTips@vcso.us.
Users can also submit tips to Crimestoppers by calling
888-277-TIPS (8477). Tips sent into Crimestoppers are eligible for cash rewards.
No matter how a user sends a tip, all information is welcome according to Gant.
"There may not be any tips out there on some of them and who knows there may be. It just takes one to open a door to another lead." Gant says.
He also said that through tips they can help provide closure to some families who are still living in the Volusia County area who had a loved one involved in a cold case.
You can visit the map by clicking here.
