Florida has a population of 22 million residents and welcomed more than 137 million visitors last year. And although the overall crime rate has dropped for an incredible 50 straight years, there are still more than 19,000 unsolved homicides in Florida dating back to 1965. To respond to this need, the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) remains committed to helping sheriffs’ offices solve Florida’s cold cases and bring closure to grieving families through two initiatives – the Cold Case Advisory Commission and the Cold Case Florida Podcast.

The Cold Case Advisory Commission

First, FSA created the Cold Case Advisory Commission (CCAC). This Commission, under the leadership of a sheriff appointed by the president, meets quarterly to discuss strategies and hear cold homicide investigation case presentations from submitting law enforcement agencies. The value of the Commission includes deeper dives into DNA research.

As law enforcement takes ever-increasing steps toward a day when every murder can be solved, cold cases will become a thing of the past. Striving to bring cold cases to a successful resolution, which includes achieving justice for victims and closure for surviving family members, is truly the most significant value of the Commission.

The creation of the Cold Case Advisory Commission has proven to be of great assistance to the sheriffs and citizens they serve. Through efforts such as the CCAC, our sheriffs emphasize that they will never forget or close a Florida cold case until it is solved.

Cold Case Florida Podcast

Another way FSA supports the solving of cold cases is through the new Cold Case Florida Podcast, recently launched to highlight unsolved crimes and offer the public an opportunity to provide information that could bring justice to these families.

The first two episodes cover the cases of:

Episode 1: Phillip Davenport

In the early morning hours of March 3, 2013, Phillip Davenport was shot and killed in his front yard, with his wife and three young children hiding in a closet inside the home. Mr. Davenport had returned from a routine trip to Walmart in Navarre, just a few minutes away. He had just gotten off the phone with his wife Tamara, and did not indicate that anything was wrong. But something was wrong – he just didn’t know it yet.

Now almost 12 years old, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is working to solve the murder of Phillip Davenport. This case, like other Florida cold cases, still has the full attention of the agency according to Sheriff Bob Johnson and his team. Listen now.

Episode 2: Bobby Ray Jones

On September 30, 1971, Bobby Ray Jones went to work as a bartender at the Lone Branch in Darlington, located near the Alabama border in the northernmost part of Walton County.

The bar closed early that night, but Bobby Ray answered a knock at the door and let someone in. Minutes later, that person would shoot and kill Bobby Ray, and over 50 years later, his family, friends and local law enforcement are still looking for answers.

This case, like their other cold cases, still has the full attention of Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson and his team. They are hoping listeners just may know something to help solve this case and bring closure to the Jones family.

As part of the effort to close these cases, podcast listeners are encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office or provide anonymous information through their local Crime Stoppers.

Working Together to Solve Florida’s Cold Cases

We encourage everyone – both law enforcement and civilian – to listen and share these important stories. Join us as we work with local sheriffs’ offices through the CCAC and the Cold Case Florida Podcast to find justice in the sunshine state – one cold case at a time. The first episodes of the Cold Case Florida Podcast are available on the FSA website or wherever you get your podcasts.