Florida Police’s Unique Weapon: A Deck of Cards to Unravel Murders
In a bold initiative to combat the scourge of unsolved murders, Florida law enforcement agencies have unveiled a unique tool: a deck of playing cards featuring the faces of elusive suspects. Named the “Florida Cold Case Playing Cards,” the deck consists of 52 cards, each bearing the image, name, and details of a murder victim and the suspected killer. The cards are distributed to law enforcement agencies throughout the state and to the public. The cards serve multiple purposes: *
Public Awareness:
By circulating the cards, police aim to raise awareness about unsolved homicides and encourage the public to provide information. *
Cold Case Review:
The cards facilitate the review of old cases by investigators, allowing them to compare previous investigations and identify potential connections. *
Witness Identification:
The hope is that witnesses who recognize the suspects depicted on the cards will come forward and provide crucial information. The cards have already yielded positive results. In one case, a tipster recognized the suspect on the “Queen of Hearts” card and provided information that led to an arrest. “These cards are a valuable tool in our arsenal,” said Lieutenant John Miller of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. “They allow us to engage the public in our investigations and potentially bring justice to victims who have been waiting far too long.” The cards were inspired by a similar initiative in Texas, where a deck of cards featuring cold case suspects helped solve dozens of murders. Florida law enforcement hopes that the “Florida Cold Case Playing Cards” will have a similar impact, bringing closure to families and ensuring that murderers are brought to account for their crimes. The distribution of the cards is ongoing, with agencies and the public encouraged to request free decks for their use. By working together, Florida police and the community hope to unravel the mysteries surrounding these unsolved murders and restore justice for the victims and their loved ones.Florida police are hoping a deck of cards will help them bring murderers to justice. The “Cold Case Playing Card Series” features the faces of 52 unsolved murder victims. Each card includes the victim’s name, photo, date of death, and a brief description of the crime. The cards are being distributed to inmates in state prisons, in the hopes that someone will recognize a victim and provide information that could lead to an arrest. “We’re hoping that this will be a way to get these cases back in the public eye,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Rick Swearingen. “We know that there are people out there who have information about these murders, and we’re hoping that this will give them the incentive to come forward.” The deck of cards was created by the FDLE and the Florida Sheriffs Association. It is the first time that such a project has been undertaken in Florida. Similar projects have been successful in other states. In 2015, the Texas Department of Public Safety released a deck of cards featuring 52 unsolved murder victims. Within a year, 10 of the cases had been solved. The Florida deck of cards is being praised by law enforcement officials and victim advocates. “This is a great idea,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “We have a lot of unsolved murders in Florida, and we need all the help we can get to solve them.” “This is a way to keep these victims’ memories alive,” said Jennifer McKenna, the founder of the Florida Justice Network, a victim advocacy group. “We hope that this will lead to some much-needed closure for their families.” The cards are being distributed to inmates in all 67 Florida state prisons. Inmates who provide information that leads to an arrest could be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000. The FDLE is also asking the public to help spread the word about the deck of cards. The cards can be viewed online at the FDLE website.
