The Art of Solving the Unsolvable: How Cold Cases Are Cracked Without DNA
In the shadowy world of cold cases, some unsolved mysteries grow colder with time, while others—against all odds—find resolution through patience, determination, and a little bit of luck. While modern forensic advancements and DNA breakthroughs have revolutionized crime-solving, some cases are solved the old-fashioned way—by relentless investigative work, sheer persistence, and unexpected twists of fate.
A&E True Crime delves into three gripping cases cracked in recent years—without the help of DNA.
The Rebekah Gould Murder: A Facebook Group That Led to Justice
In September 2004, 22-year-old Rebekah Gould vanished while visiting her hometown of Melbourne, Arkansas. Days later, her body was discovered along a desolate highway, her brutal murder leaving investigators without leads. For nearly two decades, her case remained a chilling mystery—until a true crime podcaster and a relentless investigator reignited the search for her killer.
True crime author George Jared and criminal investigator Jen Bucholtz took an unconventional approach: they created a Facebook group, “Unsolved Murder of Rebekah Gould.” The online community became a breeding ground for new information, eventually drawing in William Miller, the cousin of Gould’s boyfriend at the time of her murder. His suspicious engagement in the group raised eyebrows, and a tipster came forward, revealing Miller had been in town the weekend of the crime—and had fled the state days later.
With this fresh lead, investigator Mike McNeil set a trap. Ten months later, Miller was arrested, and the truth unraveled—he had conned his way into Gould’s home, bludgeoned her with a piano leg, and disposed of her body. In 2022, Miller confessed and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. A simple Facebook group had achieved what years of traditional police work could not.
The Murder of Jasmine Porter: A 26-Year-Old Whisper That Spoke Volumes
Jasmine “Jazzy” Porter’s 1996 murder was as brutal as it was haunting. Raped and strangled in her Bronx apartment, her 5-year-old son was the only witness. The case eventually went cold—until a conversation overheard in jail decades later changed everything.
In 2021, Bronx Detective Robert Klein received a tip about a cryptic jailhouse conversation regarding Porter’s murder. The details didn’t immediately reveal the killer, but it was enough to push Klein to reexamine the old case files. In doing so, he made a crucial discovery—unexamined fingernail clippings.
With the advent of improved forensic testing, the clippings were tested, revealing a match: Gregory Fleetwood, a Bronx man with no known connection to Porter. His arrest in 2022 reignited hope for justice. As Klein told the New York Daily News, “For families like the Porters, this [case] was never cold. Every birthday, every holiday, every milestone with her son—it was never cold.” Fleetwood was indicted for second-degree murder and, as of June 2024, awaits trial.
The Murder of Gretchen Harrington: A Confession 48 Years in the Making
August 1975. Eight-year-old Gretchen Harrington disappeared on her way to Bible camp in Pennsylvania. Later, her battered body was found in the woods, but with no evidence linking a suspect to the crime, the case went cold for nearly half a century.
Then, in 2023, a woman stepped forward with a haunting childhood memory—an attempted abduction by the church’s then-pastor, David Zandstra. Investigators tracked him down, intending to collect his DNA for comparison. But what they didn’t expect was a confession. On camera, Zandstra admitted to Harrington’s murder, revealing his decades-long secret in a stunning moment of truth.
However, justice proved elusive. At his 2025 trial, his defense team challenged the confession as coerced, and the jury ultimately acquitted him. Yet, authorities remain undeterred. Zandstra’s DNA is now being compared to open cases in other states where he once lived, and police urge anyone with information to come forward.
Why Are Cold Cases So Hard to Solve?
According to investigator Jen Bucholtz, solving cold cases isn’t just about reexamining evidence—it’s about relentless patience and sharp intuition. Unlike current cases, where fresh leads pour in daily, cold cases require sifting through thousands of pages of old reports, piecing together fractured timelines, and tracking down witnesses who may have moved, forgotten, or even passed away.
Police departments often lack the resources to assign detectives to cold cases full-time, meaning these investigations compete with active ones. Additionally, evidence can degrade, get lost, or be stored improperly over time. But perhaps the biggest challenge? Memories fade, and key witnesses take their secrets to the grave.
Old-School Detective Work Still Matters
Despite the advancements in DNA and forensic technology, traditional investigative methods remain irreplaceable. Interviews, autopsies, neighborhood canvasses, and deep dives into case files are still the backbone of solving mysteries. Social media, as demonstrated in the Gould case, has also become a powerful tool for connecting with tipsters, generating public interest, and crowd-sourcing new leads.
While DNA will continue to play a critical role in modern investigations, these cases prove that sometimes, the human element—perseverance, ingenuity, and an investigator’s gut instinct—is the most powerful tool of all. Justice may be slow, but for those who refuse to let the past stay buried, it is never out of reach.
