Cold Case Murder Investigations
The Coleman-Baker Act (O.C.G.A 17-21-3) was enacted in 2023 to assist the families of cold case murder and homicide victims in Georgia. The act defines the circumstances under which law enforcement agencies are required to reopen cold case investigations.
To be eligible for reinvestigation, a cold case would need to have occurred after January 1, 1970 and at least 3 years prior to submitting a reinvestigation application.
The request must be made by a designated person as defined in the Coleman-Baker Act:
An immediate family member or their designed legal representative who shall be a member in good standing with the Georgia State Bar. Immediate family member means a parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandparent-in-law, sibling, child, or stepchild of a victim or any person who exercised in loco parentis control over victim under the age of 18 years.
Under the act, the original investigating agency is responsible for reopening the cold case investigation.
Coleman-Baker Act Application
If you are a “designated person” and would like to request that the Savannah Police Department reopen a cold case murder or homicide investigation that was previously investigated by the department, and which occurred after January 1, 1970 but not within the past 3 years, please fill out an application.
Prior to acceptance of an application under the Coleman-Baker Act, SPD shall verify:
- The crime is a murder as defined by O.C.G.A. § 16-5-1.
- The murder occurred on or after January 1, 1970.
- The murder occurred three (3) years prior to the date of the application.
- The initial investigation of the murder was completed by our agency.
- All probative leads have been exhausted or no likely perpetrator has been identified.
- The applicant is a designated person.
- All the application’s required information is true and complete.
If you believe your application meets all the above criteria, please submit the Coleman-Baker Act electronic application below.
