"Thaw the Cold Cases Walk": Fort Worth Families Demand Justice for the Forgotten
Thaw the Cold Cases Demands Justice…
🕵️♂️ "Thaw the Cold Cases Walk": Fort Worth Families Demand Justice for the Forgotten 🚶♀️💔
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Fort Worth, TX – April 23, 2025 – With determination in their steps and memories in their hearts, dozens of families gathered beneath overcast skies on the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse. They held up signs bearing photos of sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers — loved ones lost not only to violence but to silence. 📷🕊️
The "Thaw the Cold Cases Walk" isn't just a march — it's a movement. Organized by an advocacy group of the same name, this annual event brings together grieving families, activists, and community members to demand renewed attention to Fort Worth’s more than 1,000 unsolved homicide cases. ❄️🔍
🚶♂️ A Walk With Purpose
The walk began at the historic Tarrant County Courthouse and proceeded solemnly down the street to the Fort Worth Police Department's Cold Case Unit. Each step was symbolic — an effort to bring cold cases back into the warmth of justice. 🔥📂
Many attendees wore custom shirts with the faces and names of loved ones gone too soon. Some carried candles, others clutching framed photos, their eyes glistening with emotion. 🕯️📸
“This isn’t just about one case,” said Tina Ramirez, whose 19-year-old son Diego was killed in 2016. “It’s about hundreds of families who have been waiting for years, even decades, for a knock at the door — not to tell us our loved one is gone, but to tell us someone is finally being held accountable.” ⚖️💔
📊 The Cold Truth: Over 1,000 Unsolved Cases
According to Fort Worth police data, there are currently more than 1,000 unsolved homicide cases in the city. Some stretch back to the 1960s, their evidence deteriorating with time and their stories fading from the headlines. 🗞️🕰️
Yet for the families, these aren't just “cases” — they are lifelong wounds that never fully heal. The pain is intensified by the feeling that the system has left them behind. 😔🚨
The department’s Cold Case Unit, responsible for investigating these crimes, is currently staffed by only one full-time detective and two part-time reserve officers. For families of the victims, this is unacceptable.
“How can one detective handle a thousand cases?” asked LaToya Greene, who lost her sister Shanice in a 2003 unsolved shooting. “It’s not justice. It’s abandonment.” 🧍♂️📁
🧬 The DNA Debate: Why Isn’t It Used More?
Adding to the frustration is the issue of forensic technology. Families have repeatedly pointed to the 2020 breakthrough in the Carla Walker case — a 46-year-old Fort Worth cold case solved using advanced DNA testing and genetic genealogy. 🧬🧑🔬
“If they can do it for one, why not for others?” said James Wright, whose cousin Melvin was murdered in 1998. “We’re not asking for miracles. We’re asking for effort.” 🧑⚖️📢
The Cold Case Unit reportedly has a backlog of evidence that could be eligible for re-testing, but lack of resources, funding, and staff are consistent barriers. DNA samples that could potentially unlock decades-old mysteries sit untouched. 🧪💼
🎙️ Families Speak Out: “No One Ever Called Us Back”
One of the most painful aspects for the families is the lack of communication. Several participants at the walk shared heartbreaking stories of being ignored by law enforcement, even after submitting tips or requesting updates. 📞💔
“I haven’t heard from the cold case detective in five years,” said Debbie Ruiz, whose daughter Clarissa was shot in a drive-by in 2009. “Imagine waking up every day hoping today is the day you hear something — and instead, you hear nothing. Over and over again.” 😞📪
Many families have resorted to doing their own investigative work — chasing leads, tracking down witnesses, and even launching Facebook pages and podcasts to keep the stories alive. 🖥️🎙️
🧊 From Frozen to Focused: “Thaw the Cold Cases” Advocacy Group
The movement is spearheaded by the grassroots group “Thaw the Cold Cases”, formed by relatives of homicide victims who felt their cases were going cold. ❄️➡️🔥
The group provides resources, emotional support, legal connections, and a platform for families to share their stories. It also maintains a Facebook group with over 3,000 members, where users post case updates, missing persons flyers, and calls to action. 👨👩👧👦📢
“We’re not going to let these cases be buried by bureaucracy,” said Daniela Chavez, one of the group's co-founders. “If the system won’t fight for our loved ones, we will.” 💪❤️
This year’s walk featured a moment of silence, a reading of victim names, and a release of symbolic doves to represent the souls who’ve been waiting too long for justice. 🕊️📜
🧑✈️ The Police Response: Acknowledgement, But Is It Enough?
In response to growing public outcry, Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes issued a statement acknowledging the challenges and promising improvements. 🧑✈️📣
“We hear the families, and we understand their pain,” said Noakes. “The department is currently reviewing staffing levels and exploring the digitization of case records to improve investigative efficiency.” 📂🖥️
However, many at the event said they’ve heard similar promises before — and little has changed.
“They say they care, but what we need are results, not reassurances,” said Mariah Phillips, whose mother’s murder in 1995 remains unsolved. “Hire more people. Reopen the files. Return our calls.” 📞🛑
🧾 Demands from the Families
Participants in the “Thaw the Cold Cases Walk” presented a list of five core demands to city officials and the Fort Worth Police Department:
📈 Increase staffing in the Cold Case Unit
🧬 Expand use of forensic DNA and genetic genealogy
📞 Ensure regular communication with victim families
📂 Digitize cold case files for better access and efficiency
💰 Secure dedicated funding for cold case investigations
Each demand was met with thunderous applause and firm agreement from the crowd, many of whom traveled across Texas to attend the walk. 👏🌎
🌐 The Power of Visibility
Advocates say that one of the most critical tools in solving cold cases is public attention. The more people know about a case, the more likely it is that someone will come forward. 🧠💡
This is where local media, social media, and community engagement can play a pivotal role. Already, several cold cases have been reignited after a family member’s Facebook post went viral or a podcast episode reached the right listener. 📻📲
“Silence benefits killers,” said Jordan Banks, who runs a true crime YouTube channel. “But exposure brings accountability.” 📹🔥
💬 Voices of the Voiceless
Throughout the march, one phrase could be heard again and again: “We are their voice now.” 🎤🕯️
For many, the walk was more than just advocacy — it was therapy. An opportunity to grieve openly, to be seen, and to stand in solidarity with others who understand the unique agony of not knowing. 🤝💔
“I come every year because it makes me feel like my son isn’t forgotten,” said Angela Kim, whose 15-year-old was shot walking home from school in 2010. “When we all gather like this, you realize you’re not alone.” 🙏🏽
📅 The Fight Continues
As the 2025 walk came to a close, families lingered outside the Cold Case Unit building — some in silent reflection, others hugging tightly. But they left with renewed determination and a shared promise: to keep pushing forward until justice is served. 🕊️📣
“We will keep walking. Every year, every day if we have to,” said Tina Ramirez. “Because our loved ones deserve more than cold files and empty words. They deserve truth. They deserve peace.” ⚖️💙
🛠️ How You Can Help
If you’d like to support the work of Thaw the Cold Cases, here’s how you can get involved:
🧾 Donate to support DNA testing and advocacy
📣 Share cold case stories on social media
📬 Write to local officials demanding more cold case resources
🕯️ Attend next year’s walk and walk in memory of someone forgotten
More details and updates are available on the official Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/916780456954975
✊ Final Thoughts
Cold cases are more than statistics. They are human stories interrupted. Behind each file is a person — and behind every person is a family that still hopes, still grieves, and still believes. 🌅📖
The “Thaw the Cold Cases Walk” sends a powerful message to the world: No one deserves to be forgotten. Not in Fort Worth. Not anywhere. 🌍💔
Let’s keep their stories alive. Let’s walk until justice is no longer a dream, but a reality. 🕵️♀️💪💛