A History of Caring

It is estimated that there are over 340,000 unsolved homicides in the United States. Add to this the staggering number of unsolved sexual assaults and an estimated 40,000 unidentified human remains cases. Monterey County has its own fair share of these unsolved crimes.

Over the years, local law enforcement has been committed to pursuing the resolution of these cases. Examples of this dedicated work include the following:

In 2005, Monterey Peninsula law enforcement agencies came together to form the Peninsula Cold Case Project (PCCP). This team of investigators from peninsula law enforcement agencies, as well as the Monterey County DA’s Office, the California DOJ and the FBI, would meet regularly to present and investigate unsolved homicides. Several cold cases were solved by the PCCP.

In 2013, local police chiefs created the Peninsula Regional Violence and Narcotics Team (PRVNT). This team, along with the PCCP, continued to investigate and close unsolved homicides. Their most well-known solve came about in 2017, with the arrest and subsequent conviction of the suspect in the 1998 abduction, sexual assault and homicide of 13-years-old Christina Williams. This cold case was selected by the California Peace Officer’s Association for their 2018 “Outstanding Cold Case Solve” award.

In July of 2020, District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni established the Monterey County DA’s Office Cold Case Task Force (CCTF). This task force represents, “The largest and most comprehensive effort in the county’s history to identify, review, and collaboratively re-investigate unresolved homicide cases, missing person cases with foul play suspected, and cases of unidentified human remains throughout Monterey County.” To date, the CCTF, working together with local law enforcement, has closed seventeen (17) cold homicide cases. In addition, ten (10) unidentified human remains have been given their name back, and one (1) 2010 home invasion/sexual assault case has been closed by arrest.

In 2021, the DA’s Office was awarded a three-year, $535,000 federal grant to investigate and prosecute cold cases. As of 2025, these funds, critical to the resolution of many previously unsolved cases, are nearly exhausted, with the remaining funds already allocated by the CCTF for ongoing investigations.

In light of this situation, the Cold Case Project of Monterey County has been created to provide ongoing financial support to local law enforcement in their continued efforts to investigate and resolve unsolved cases within our communities.

It is our hope that you will join us in this quest for justice.