Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
307 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

How to Research a Cold Case Online

Researching a cold case online means building a timeline from public sources: case databases, old newspaper coverage, court and public records, obituaries and records requests. The goal is to organize what is already known and pass anything new to the investigating agency, not to solve the case on social media.

Updated November 15, 2026 · Crime Solvers Central, an independent, volunteer-run cold case site

Search missing persons, unsolved homicides and unidentified and unclaimed persons in one place, with sources, timelines and a discussion thread for every case.

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1. Start with the case databases

2. Read the original news coverage

  • Search news sites for the name, place and year, then follow every name and detail mentioned.
  • Use newspaper archives for older cases. Many public libraries give free online access to newspaper databases with a library card; the Library of Congress's Chronicling America covers historic papers.
  • Note what changed between articles: early reports often hold details that later stories drop.

3. Check public records

  • Court records: state court case search portals and, for federal cases, PACER. Look for related criminal cases, protective orders and civil suits.
  • Death records and obituaries: they confirm dates, family members and places.
  • Property and business records on county websites can confirm where people lived and when.
  • Records requests: you can request public records from police and other agencies under your state's public records law. Open investigations are usually exempt, but older or closed files sometimes are not.

4. Build a timeline

  • Put every fact in date order with its source.
  • Mark each item as confirmed (official record or several reliable sources) or unconfirmed (one report, rumor, online claim).
  • Keep a list of open questions and of the people and places involved.

5. Share findings responsibly

  • Send new information to the investigating agency, with the case number and your sources.
  • Never name someone as a suspect online unless police or court records already have. Wrongly accusing people causes real harm and can expose you to legal claims.
  • Respect families. Don't contact them uninvited or post graphic material.
  • Discuss with others in moderated communities. See where to discuss unsolved cases online.

Search missing persons, unsolved homicides and unidentified and unclaimed persons in one place, with sources, timelines and a discussion thread for every case. See membership options.

Search unsolved cases

Frequently asked questions

How do I start researching a cold case?

Start with case databases like Crime Solvers Central, NamUs and state cold case pages, read all the original news coverage, check court and death records, and build a dated timeline with a source for every fact.

Where can I find old newspaper articles about a cold case?

Many public libraries give free online access to newspaper archive databases with a library card, and the Library of Congress's Chronicling America covers historic newspapers.

Can I get police records for a cold case?

You can request public records under your state's public records law, but records in open investigations are usually exempt. Older or closed cases are more likely to be released.

What should I do if I find new information about a cold case?

Send it to the investigating agency with the case number and your sources. Don't post accusations about named people online.

More help for families

Crime Solvers Central is an independent, volunteer-run case research and advocacy site, not a law enforcement agency. In an emergency call 911. Questions? Contact us.