SXSW 2025
Finding a Serial Killer—and Justice—After 40 years
Description:
In 2022, the decades-long mystery of a previously unknown serial killer and rapist named Joe Micheal Ervin was finally solved, bringing answers to survivors and victims’ families after 40 years. How, after so many years, was the truth uncovered? It took years of old-school police work and a cutting-edge investigative technique called forensic genetic genealogy. It took the combined efforts of law enforcement in Colorado and Texas, along with support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, which used two different federal grants to help crack the case.
Other Resources / Information
blog post: https://bja.ojp.gov/news/blog/finding-serial-killer-and-justice-after-40-years
Justice Today podcast: https://bja.ojp.gov/podcast/finding-a-serial-killer
Takeaways
- Solving violent cold case crimes brings long-awaited answers for survivors and victims’ families and can help prevent future violent crime.
- Cutting-edge forensic technology is helping numerous cases get resolved.
- Processing backlogged sexual assault kits and cold case evidence is important to seek justice for victims and families no matter how much time passed
Speakers
- Angela Williamson, Forensics Unit Supervisor/FBI BAU Forensics Specialist, Department of Justice
- Karen Friedman, Director of Criminal Justice Innovation, Development, and Engagement, Department of Justice
- Dawn Weber, Senior Chief Deputy District Attorney, Cold Case Unit, Denver District Attorney’s Office
- Kari Johnson, Detective, Cold Case/Homicide Unit, Denver Police Department
Organizer
Katherine Brown, Director of the Office of Communications. Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice
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