Cold Case Initiative - II


February 27, 2009

Special Agent Cynthia Deitle provides an overview of the Cold Case Initiative.


Audio Transcript

Mr. Schiff: FBI agents are taking a very close look at old cases. Cold Cases; racially-motivated murders from the past 40 years or so…

Ms. Deitle: "You start from scratch. You pretend as if nothing was ever done and this is a new case that was dropped on your lap and this is something that you have to start from the beginning and pursue.”

Mr. Schiff: Special Agent Cynthia Deitle is Chief of the FBI’s Civil Rights Unit and says agents are looking at old FBI files…

Ms. Deitle: "Police records that exist; court records; grand jury transcripts; if there are witnesses that are still alive. ”

Mr. Schiff: Deitle says old files and records are not easy to find…

Ms. Deitle: "It’s been a lot of micro-fiche and onion-skin paper records in dusty courthouse basements.”

Mr. Schiff: Deitle says there’s lots of support…

Ms. Deitle: "It is a just cause and there is such a strong obligation on the part of the FBI and the Department of Justice to bring these cases to a closure.”

Mr. Schiff: At fbi.gov you can check out the cases under review. I’m Neal Schiff of the Bureau and that’s what’s happening at the “FBI, This Week.”

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