Stage Talks with Bellingcat "Investigating Cold Cases" with Peter Barth
Jul 4, 2025
Peter Barth, a researcher at Bellingcat, dives into an intriguing cold case murder from 1971 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He shares captivating insights on how he uncovered ties to organized crime while revealing the staggering number of unsolved homicides in the U.S. Barth emphasizes the crucial role of open-source investigation techniques and community engagement in solving these cases. Listeners learn about valuable resources and strategies for participating in cold case investigations, ultimately fostering a spirit of justice and resolution.
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Massive Cold Case Volume
- The sheer volume of cold cases in the US is staggering, with hundreds of thousands unsolved.
- Many cold cases lack complete data due to underreporting by local agencies.
How to Crack Cold Cases Using Modern Open Source Techniques
Peter Barth reveals that cold cases, especially in the US, are a massive problem with hundreds of thousands unsolved since the 1960s. He emphasizes the power of open source research methods, such as digitized newspapers, genealogy websites like Ancestry.com, social media, and FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests to uncover clues that traditional investigations may miss.
Key takeaways include:
- Many unsolved murders have little to no online presence, so creating public, organized records is a valuable contribution.
- Filing targeted FOIA requests, especially for deceased suspects, unlocks critical information like FBI files unavailable otherwise.
- Building investigative communities and using crowdsourced platforms like Uncovered or Solve the Case can amplify impact.
- Be methodical in organizing information about suspects, victims, and records to track discoveries efficiently.
- Always consider ethical implications when contacting families and law enforcement.
Peter's approach demonstrates that with persistence, creativity, and the right tools, independent researchers can make significant progress in cold case investigations.
Start With Online Records Check
- First, check if the case has any online mentions or records.
- Collect and upload available data to help both investigators and the public.