Welcome to the Virginia Cold Case Database

Developed to assist Virginia law enforcement in soliciting tips on unsolved cases throughout the Commonwealth, the site displays unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and unidentified remains. All cases are at least 5 years or older.

If you have any information that could help solve one of these cases, please use the “Submit a Tip” form on each page or contact the reporting agency directly.  

If you are aware of a cold case that is not currently present on the website, please contact the investigating agency.  Unsolved cases are submitted to the database on a voluntary basis.

Tabular data of the database is stored with the Virginia Open Data Portal.

Anniversary Unsolved Cases

Tyler Franks
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
10/14/2023
Location:
3600 Blk of Chamberlayne Ave, Richmond

Cases

Cases are displayed at random to ensure all victims are publicized equally. Refreshing your browser will bring different cases into view or you may browse all cases.

Michael Wayne Short
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
08/15/2002
Location:
Henry County
Mary Hall Short
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
08/15/2002
Location:
Henry County
Myer Harry Jacobson
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
02/08/1963
Location:
Portsmouth Deer and Hunt Club, Nansemond County
James Franklin
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
03/22/1979
Location:
VA Hospital Wooded Area Hampton
Bruce Ritchie
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
05/23/2020
Location:
Wilderness Road, Bland County
Heidi Childs
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
08/27/2009
Location:
Caldwell Fields, Montgomery Co.
David Metzler
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
08/27/2009
Location:
Caldwell Fields, Montgomery Co.
Ryan Render
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
02/24/2012
Location:
2234 Cunningham Drive Hampton
Jane Doe
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
12/16/1961
Location:
Neer Lane / Cider Mill Road, Hillsboro
Joseph Hicks
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
09/07/2015
Location:
Henrico County
Jaquan Brown
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
08/02/2013
Location:
957 N. King Street Hampton
Joan Herndon
Case Type:
Homicide
Incident Date:
10/19/1995
Location:
Arvonia