NKU students work with Boone County Sheriff's Office to solve cold cases

Northern Kentucky University is partnering with the Boone County Sheriff's Office in an initiative to solve cold cases.

Six students were selected to help bring fresh eyes and a new perspective to the Boone County Sheriff's Office cold case unit as part of a criminal justice course taught at NKU.

The partnership leverages the skills and fresh perspective of the students, who work closely with experienced investigators from the Sheriff's Office. This initiative not only aims to bring justice to unsolved cases but also provides students with real-world experience.

“The Boone County Sheriff's Office is the only law enforcement agency in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with a full-time cold case unit,” said Sheriff Michael Helmig. “This collaboration with NKU reaffirms our commitment to the families of each victim so that their loved one’s case is not forgotten.”

The students were all enrolled in JUS 494: Cold Case Investigation at NKU and selected for their academic excellence, integrity, critical thinking skills and passion for criminal justice. They were responsible for evaluating homicide cases, reading case documents, reviewing hours of recorded interviews, and then presenting their investigative recommendations to detectives in the cold case unit.

“This collaboration is an unprecedented opportunity for our students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world situations,” said Melissa Moon, professor of criminal justice at NKU. “It also demonstrates NKU’s commitment to community service and fostering the next generation of criminal justice professionals.”

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