The Restless Sleep header image 2

January 16th, 2007

The Number of Unsolved Murders in New York City

barrells6.jpg

There are now 9,082 unsolved murders in New York City going back to 1985. That figure is a moving target of course. They are adding to that number all the time. Roughly 150 – 200 or more murders go cold every year, and try as they might, they are not going back and solving that many each year (of the older, cold cases).

That picture was take at one of the Property Clerk warehouses. Those barrels contain homicide evidence.

Attention!  If you have a friend or loved one whose murder is still unsolved and you want to know what to do, please read this:

People ask repeatedly in the comments section about what to do or who to call about an unsolved murder. The answer to those questions are on the left under the heading, Getting Help – Contacting a Cold Case Squad. First read the document titled Before You Contact a Cold Case Squad. Then look up the number in the document Cold Case Squad and Other Organizations.

If you can’t find a number for your city or town, call your local police department and ask them if they have a cold case squad or a person in their homicide squad who specializes in cold cases. If they don’t then ask to speak to someone in their homicide squad. If you don’t get what you believe is a decent response, then go to the document on the left titled, Escalating Your Case.

If you have specific questions after reading through these instructions please ask here, but come back to see the answer!

→ 783 CommentsTags: Homicide Facts ·

783 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Marisol Burgos // Nov 15, 2012 at 8:55 am

    Thank you for your time and concern. I will keep doing research, They family dont want to talk to me cause according to the law enforcements, my uncle was the one that killed them. He has just been released from doing 30 years and I havent seen him and dont want to see him. He took someone close to me and destroyed our plans that she and I had in the future..argghhh I am so tight about this. I dont want to see his face or hear his name. My family wont give me information, so I guess I will just try and do the reasearch myself. I really just wanted to show my respect at the cemetary. Thanks alot!!!!

  • 2 Marisol Burgos // Nov 15, 2012 at 8:59 am

    Oh this wouldnt be considered unsolved either, cause he did the time which I personally think that he shoulda got life. sadly to say but what he did was wrong and he took 2 lives away so he should have one either. anyway enuff said.. Good uck every one in finding closure

  • 3 Gina Campanale // Nov 15, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    I have a picture of my daughter ny exhusband sent to my fater back in 1990 two weeks after I revceived this picture a new broadcast reveiled a composit drawing of an identical picture of a 7 year girl beaten to death stuffed inside a cooler and dumped on the side of the road in New York. My exhuband ran off to New York with his girlfriend and both of dauthers. Dolores Ashley Deering was 7 years when that news broadcast was aired. I did not no the where about of my exhusband and childeren he ran off and didn’t tell me where he was going after he got custody. I would like to know how do I provide a photo. Ater eight years I was able to visit my daughter in New York. He claimed he changed Dolores name to Ashley Catherine, but I didn’t believe him so I looked for the birth mark and it was not there, I asked her about the past things she would never forget, she could not remember but Amer did, and she was only 1 years old at the time, Dolores was 4 years when I saw her last. I tried to get help with this matter, but know where is the direction I was lead. I wanted to come forward as soon as I witness the compsit drawing, but it cause me to have a heart attack, and I became so emotional that I was unable to talk at all. However, when I was strong enought to steak about it went to the Leesburg Police Department in Virginia and talked the Captain Jeff Brown.

  • 4 Gina Campanale // Nov 15, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    I want to make sure I am under stood. I lost custody in 1987. The Judge gave customy to William Deering her father, and his live in girl friend. It was unbeliveable to loss custody to his girl friend. I lost my mother to a murder who murder my mother and brother, in San Diego, Mira Mesa in June 17, 1982 my mother name was Dolores Anne Campanale. I named my daughter Dolores. My exhusband didn’t want to let me no his where abouts, therefore, he didn’t tell anyone in my family, and my father for years looked for him, and when he found him, he begged me not to go there. I know the picture on that composit drawing of that 7 year old girl stuffed inside a cooler dumped on the side of the road is her. I belive becasue by father found him, I think he kidnapped another girl and forced her to his daugher to because my father wheather he liked it not went to visit his grandaughters. I believe the story is the parents of a girl who was upducted identified her, but I want a chance to talk to the medical exaimner to find out is she had a birth mark.

  • 5 Stacy Horn // Nov 16, 2012 at 9:18 am

    The child who was found inside the cooler was estimated to be 4 to 4 1/2 years old.

  • 6 Stacy Horn // Nov 16, 2012 at 9:24 am

    If you don’t think it would further upset the family, you might try writing them a letter, explaining how much you loved and cared about their daughter, maybe telling a few stories about her, that show what a wonderful person she was, ie, talk about the plans you made, something of her hopes and dreams, and your days at the beach. And state very briefly that you have nothing to do with your Uncle, that he took someone you loved too, and you just want to visit her grave and honor her memory.

  • 7 bramdol // Nov 17, 2012 at 5:02 am

    My father was murdered by his friend in July 1996 in kingbridge road 193rd street creston avenue I wwanna know more information about his murder n the killer hope to hear from you soon stacy his name was Jose tejeda and I will like to know what peeving did his case

  • 8 Marisol Burgos // Nov 17, 2012 at 9:25 am

    Thank you so much Stacy Horn.. I appreciate your concern.. Its aggravating cause I dont even know her name but I will keep doing research. My uncle just got released like a month ago so maybe I should ask him her last name. I hate having to face him cause I was suppose to meet up with her there and I didnt.. My mother didnt want me with her and vice versa, so she sent me to live with my father in the South Bronx to stayaway from the crew… My friend rest her soul called me to meet her on a school day at the M&M club and I told her yeah.. But I didnt go cause I didnt want to get in trouble by my dad. Then I got that sad call from my oldest sister.. Well wish I knew her name so I can just visit her grave, but its ok guess I will see her in heaven when its my time.. I really dont want to have to ask this man cause I am sure I will be asking him what about if I was there at the time would you have killed me to? hummm Maybe cause once a murderer is always a murderer/.. I am so fustrated about this whole ordeal..

  • 9 Marisol Burgos // Nov 17, 2012 at 9:27 am

    correction for above comment.. I do know her name but not her last name… 🙁 I just dnt remember it.. its blocked for some reason aggrevating arrrggghhhh

  • 10 Michael salem // Nov 18, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    I am sure i tAlked to Stacey years ago.Christopher o’connor was murdered in 1987, but it was classified as an accident in queens.because of political pressure. his death and the murder of a witness were never properly investigated.please go to helpchristopher.com and see the scenario.thank u michael.all suggestions will be appreciated.

  • 11 Stacy Horn // Nov 19, 2012 at 9:31 am

    Good luck in your search.

  • 12 Stacy Horn // Nov 19, 2012 at 9:41 am

    I’m very sorry about your father. If you look over on the left, at the very top, it says: Getting Help-Contacting a Cold Case Squad. Click on “Before You Contact a Cold Case Squad READ THIS” and read through those instructions carefully. I wrote out what I feel is good advice about how to get help. When you’re ready, and have gathered all the information they’d need to help you, contact the NYPD’s Cold Case Squad: (718) 834-2777.

    If you have specific questions as you go along, or hit snags along the way, please feel free ask.

  • 13 Pamela Bristow // Nov 29, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    My stepdaughter is looking for her mothers grave. Her mother Pyong Bristow was fatally shot in the Wong Social club in Queens New York on February 19th 1986. Pyong was Korean and spoke broken english. She was born 8-29-1960. I have a possible name of the detective assinged to the case as Rizano or Rizaro. We do not know who claimed the body but Pyong had a sister living in LA, CA who spoke only Korean and supposedly came to NY to take care of arrangments. My stepdaughters parents were divorced prior to that and she had been abandoned by her mother in Colorado Springs Co. Her father was in the military at that time and did obtain legal custody of her. Can I get help with finding out what funeral home took the body and where she might be buried? I know she was pronounced at Queens Gen Hospital. It is also possible she was buried a pauper.

  • 14 Stacy Horn // Nov 29, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    This is not really my area of expertise, but I have a few suggestions. You could start with her death certificate, which you can order online here:

    http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/services/death-certificates.page

    The death certificate should list the funeral home and/or where she was buried. If it turns out that she was buried as a pauper on Hart Island, (New York’s Potters Field) you can find out more information here:

    http://hartisland.net/wwwebs/

    Or, you could contact the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner directly. They would have determined the cause and manner of her death and they should also have a record of the final disposition of the body. If her sister claimed the body they would have a record of that. 212-447-2030

    I hope you stepdaughter is able to find her mother’s grave, and it is very kind of you to try to help her.

  • 15 Dimika jennings // Dec 12, 2012 at 7:17 pm

    Hello my name is Dimika, after reading every post on this web site I thought maybe I would give it a try. Well my father’s name is vacher Martin born 3/1954 I want to say not to sure on the day but I want to say the 23rd and lived queens newyork. He was always in and out of jail so there is a record of him.1992 I received a call from him and I traveled from Jacksonville fl. To queens to meet him cause he was ill. I will never forget cause I was a teenage mom and that would be the one and only time he would ever see my daughter which was almost 2. He was very nervous as we went to my grandfathers house and just seem as if was looking over his back. He told me the next day he would meet me in farrockaway and return to Fla. With me. Well I never seen or heard from him again. He was a drug User as well and was receiving S.S.I. due to his illness so he needed his money. Well his checks started piling up I mad a missing report but cause he was order he was not missing so I was told. He just dropped off the face of the earth. No info at the police department no body no death paper and he didn’t return to jail. I have been on so many web sites never found a answer if you could help me that would be great! Thanks so much Dimika.

  • 16 Dimika jennings // Dec 12, 2012 at 7:19 pm

    Sorry about the miss spelling

  • 17 Stacy Horn // Dec 12, 2012 at 7:30 pm

    I’m sorry, but missing persons is not something I know a lot about. It could be that he was murdered, but until that is established the police won’t investigate it as a homicide. I would suggest getting back in contact with the Missing Persons Squad to begin, their number is 646-610-6914 (6917). If you can afford it you might also consider hiring a private investigator, but that is something I also don’t know a lot about and I’m not sure how you go about finding a reputable one. You might also contact the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to see if any John Does turned up around the time he disappeared. Their number is 212-447-2030.

  • 18 Dimika jennings // Dec 12, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    Thanks I did the private investigator it didn’t work out well but thanks. I will try the medical examiner again I did at one time look at picture’s with them. I ordered another copy of my mothers divorce papers to see if I got thectight info. Both my grand parents have passed and lets just say out of most of his 11 sisters and brothers all but two haven’t been killed or died. Its sad cause I have 5 kids and two grand kids he never meet its not even a grave!

  • 19 Dimika jennings // Dec 12, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    By the way its many story’s some that he was murdered as well but who knows but thanks and God bless you!

  • 20 Dimika jennings // Dec 12, 2012 at 8:42 pm

    I’m sorry I know yu stated missing persons is not really your field but just a question…. if he was killed shouldn’t his finger prints have came up I would think if his body was found?? Thanks

  • 21 Dimika jennings // Dec 12, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    I just want to say thanks after you mention the private investigator it just came to mind to ask my mothers mom did she have any pictures. Well turns out one picture has his right birth date behind it so thanks so much maybe this will help me. DIMIKA

  • 22 Stacy Horn // Dec 13, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    Good luck in your search. If a body was found, fingerprints would be taken, yes, but fingerprint matching is an inexact science and many would argue that it’s not a science at all.

  • 23 Melinda Ramirez // Jan 4, 2013 at 11:29 am

    hi stacy, I had a friend who was shot and killed in bronx New York on Aldus St and Longfellow ave, im not sure what year it was but somewhere around 2001 to 2001 in june, his name was Tyree Beck. We were close and i always have him in my heart. Im trying to find the article of what happened on the internet and he seems to be forgotten, or not even mentioned, can you help me? Thank you

  • 24 Melinda Ramirez // Jan 4, 2013 at 11:30 am

    I mean 2001 and 2003 sorry i shouldve proof read it

  • 25 Stacy Horn // Jan 4, 2013 at 11:48 am

    Hello Melinda. I’m sorry about your friend. What are you trying to find out? The best thing might be to contact his family. If you call the precinct they may not tell you anything because you are not a member of the immediate family. If you have information that might help them, that’s a different story.

    If you are looking to see if there were any articles about his murder, I would suggest starting at the New York Public Library and using Proquest (and other tools). I explain about Proquest here:

    https://www.therestlesssleep.com/?p=704

    If you’ve never used it before don’t worry, it’s very easy and the librarian can help you get started. But check and make sure your branch has it. Not all of them do. I go to the main branch at 42nd and 5th.

  • 26 Steve Dwyer // Jan 9, 2013 at 5:03 am

    hello Stacy , My Uncle Tom was killed March 22 1977 in Richmond Hill Queens NY and they lived on 111th street. my family stated that he got in a altercation in a bar called Joe’s on 109th street and Liberty Avenue and eyewitness stated that he was chased down the block where he ran up to the train platform and the A train. There was a lump in the back of his head and lacerations. He was found on the train track On the death certificate it states that the death was accidental and was under police investigation.
    Tommy was 22 years old and was born in Dec of 1954. The death is still unsolved today, over 35 years later. Do you think there would be articles about this in any archives?

  • 27 Steve Dwyer // Jan 9, 2013 at 4:10 pm

    Im writing because my Uncle, Thomas A Dwyer was killed on March 22 1977 in South Richmond Hill , NY 11419. He got into a altercation in a local bar called Joe’s bar on Liberty Avenue. Eye witness said they saw him being chased and then ran up the stair to the train lpatform where the A train went by. When they found him he was on the tracks or underneath with a lump on his head and lacerations. The death certificate states it was accidental pendnig police investigation. Do you think there will be a news article on this today. This is still unsolved nearly 36 years later. He was 22 years old and was born Dec 1954. Thanks , Steve

  • 28 Stacy Horn // Jan 9, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    I see that you left two comments but I’ll respond to both of them here. First, if the death was ruled as accidental then it is not unsolved. It means that the death was not a homicide or a suicide, or manslaughter, but an accident. Essentially the case is closed. It’s very unusual for a death certificate to say accidental and under police investigation, so I’m not sure what that is about. If it was an accident, there’s nothing more for them to do, there would be no one to seek out and prosecute. You could contact the precinct where this occurred to see if they have more information, which I believe is the 102 (718-805-3212) or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to ask why they concluded that the death was accidental (212-447-2030.).

    If you would like to see if there were any articles about his murder, I would suggest starting at the New York Public Library (or your local library) and using Proquest (and other tools). I explain about Proquest here:

    https://www.therestlesssleep.com/?p=704

    Good luck in your search and I’m sorry about your Uncle.

  • 29 T Nelson // Jan 10, 2013 at 5:11 am

    Hello Stacy,

    Great site!

    My mother’s boyfriend and father of my twin brother and sister- Gray Wooden, Was murdered in his Brooklyn NY apartment on Nov 15th or 16th of 1996.

    It was said to be drug related but his body was found in the bath rub bound and gaged.

    at the time I was 12, not 27 and we never found out if his killers were ever caught. since then we relocated for safety reasons.. If you have any information we’d appreciate it it

  • 30 Stacy Horn // Jan 10, 2013 at 2:48 pm

    I wouldn’t have any information, but the quickest way to get an answer would be to call the precinct where the murder occurred. You didn’t say where in Brooklyn, so I can’t tell you the number to call, but I imagine your mother knows which precinct. Presumably your mother would also have the name of the detective who was assigned the case so I would start with him or her. But if that person has retired, someone in the detective squad should be able to tell you where the case stands, and if it was closed or not. Good luck in your search.

  • 31 Niree Robinson // Jan 25, 2013 at 9:39 am

    Good morning. My mother was murdered in the Bronx in the Noonan Plaza on Ogden and Nelson Ave in April of 1976.Her name is Sharon Robinson. I was nine months at the time and really have not been given the full story on how she died. I know she was shot in the stairwell of either building 135 or 145, I think. I have been told only Kenneth Robinson or Warren Robinson was questioned, but never charged in the case. Kenneth or Warren is my father. I would like to know more about this case if possible. No one was charged in this case and I would like to know more about it please. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

  • 32 Niree Robinson // Jan 30, 2013 at 7:49 pm

    If there is anything you can assist me with about this case, I would greatly appreciate it.

  • 33 Stacy Horn // Jan 31, 2013 at 10:25 am

    Niree, I’m sorry I haven’t responded sooner. I’m going to email you about this.

  • 34 Niree Robinson // Jan 31, 2013 at 11:26 am

    Thank you, I appreciate your help

  • 35 Chiko // Feb 19, 2013 at 3:25 pm

    Hey Stacy,
    Just checking back, about Lorenzo Soto “Kuriaki”
    Have you heard from his Iris his sister?
    And Sergio who posted #218, are you really his son? If so PLEASE contact me, I was one of your dad’s best friends back in the day.

  • 36 Stacy Horn // Feb 19, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    No, I never heard back from Iris. I’m sorry.

  • 37 Chiko // Feb 20, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    Stacy,
    Do you have Sergio’s contact info?
    If so could you pass along my info to him.
    He is saying he is Kuriaki’s son

    Thanks

  • 38 Stacy Horn // Feb 21, 2013 at 10:01 am

    I already did that, and so far have received no response.

  • 39 Lisa Swislosky // Mar 8, 2013 at 3:48 am

    Regarding article 74. Lynn.. Christian was found in the dumps. He had went to the park with a neighbor, the man at the time worked for Grand Union and was well known to college pointers. He was found stangled in the trunk of an abandoned car. His parents had only been in the country for a short time and had brought Christian there for a better life. I heard they went back to their country right after that. I remember the funeral line went around the block. So sad. Christian was in my brothers class at the time. The guy from grand union was a child molester it later came out after his arrest

  • 40 Stacy Horn // Mar 9, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    That is so horribly sad.

  • 41 Shante // Mar 13, 2013 at 5:37 am

    I have a quick question … How do i go about finding information about my aunts murder ? It happened before i was born in Brooklyn NY in Feb 1978 her and a male friend where shot execution style . Her name was Beverly Thompson and went by the name Niecy . Please any help will e so appreciated i have a very small family and would lime to know as much as i can !

  • 42 evelyn // Mar 14, 2013 at 2:50 pm

    I was living in brooklyn with my husband and my son and we had a dog. I believe that the murder happened either on a wed night or a fri night. We lived on 701 dekalb ave. There was a young man who lived four or five doors down from us. My husband and this young man could pass for almost twins. I had looked out the window, and it looked like rain, and plus there was an erie feeling about the night. I told my husband to go walk the dog early, because it did not feel right. He went and came back. At around 8pm or 9pm my son was coming home, prior to that we had heard four to five sots. And this young man who could pass as my husbands twin was standing in front of his building, was gunned down and murdered. That night it rained, and at exactly 3am in the morning they took his body away. I believe but I am not certain but I think this happened on or around 04 and 2006. The shooting was ganag related, and I was looking to find out if there is any information in regards to this murder. Thank you

  • 43 alex ayala // Mar 14, 2013 at 5:35 pm

    I was trying to get info on a freind i grew uo with in washington heights. He was murdered on 125th st gun shot to back of head never found out who killed him any info please contact me. His name was Micheal Fowler lived on 170th between audubon and amsterdam ave mother Rachel Fowler dad Jack Conklin Fowler.

  • 44 Stacy Horn // Mar 14, 2013 at 6:00 pm

    I’m very sorry about your friend. You might want to consider contacting his parents, but if you would rather not I would suggest beginning by contacting the precinct. You didn’t give an exact address so I can’t tell you which one that is, but if you don’t know you can look it up here:

    http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precinct_maps/precinct_finder.shtml

    When you call, have the exact date of the homicide ready. If you don’t have that, you can research it at the library and I give instructions on how to do that here:

    https://www.therestlesssleep.com/?p=704

  • 45 Stacy Horn // Mar 14, 2013 at 6:01 pm

    Your best bet would be to begin at the library. I have instructions for that here:

    https://www.therestlesssleep.com/?p=704

    Good luck.

  • 46 Stacy Horn // Mar 14, 2013 at 6:06 pm

    I’m very sorry about your aunt. Do you know where in Brooklyn it happened? Are any family members alive who can give you more information?

  • 47 CHRISTOPHER SOSTRE // Mar 20, 2013 at 5:56 pm

    hi stacy in 1986 my mother was murdered when i was 14 years old. her body was found in the east river i believe and she had two gunshot wounds in the head and was wrapped in a rug and dumped into the river,, the killers were never found, can you help

  • 48 Stacy Horn // Mar 21, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    Oh, that’s terrible. I’m so sorry. I would begin by reading my instructions, which are over on the left at the top, under Getting Help – Contacting a Cold Case Squad. Click on Before You Contact a Cold Case Squad READ THIS. If you have any questions, let me know.

  • 49 Mary // Mar 23, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    Thanks for creating this wonderful site. My brother-in-law shot his co-worker (and girlfriend) in the head and she died. It took place at a grocery store they worked at in the late 1980’s in Jamacia or Brooklyn. The gun was registered in his name. Ultimately the case was deemed accidental.I can’t find any story on this. Maybe it was exspunged. How can I look up his arrest? I have his name, social, and DOB. I do not have her name.

  • 50 Stacy Horn // Mar 26, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    Well, a few things. If they ruled the death an accident then there was no real case. A crime was not committed. The case file would have at a most a page or two saying that they took the call, the medical examiner determined that it was an accident, perhaps with the NYPD’s corroboration and a list of the names of the people they talked to, and that would be that. You would not be given access to the files in any case.

    What are you trying to find out exactly? I can’t really make suggestions without knowing what you’d like to learn. When you said you couldn’t find any story on this, where did you look? Because even if you decide you’d like to pursue this and see if there is anything the NYPD would be willing to share, you still have to let them know where this occurred and when. You can’t just say Queens or Brooklyn, sometime in the 1980’s. I would suggest reading this post, where I explain some of the tools that would be available to you at your local library:

    https://www.therestlesssleep.com/?p=704

Leave a Comment