48 Hours A Son's Pursuit of Justice
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Sep 25, 2025 Detective Donna Velasquez, a dedicated police detective from Pembroke Pines, shares her gripping journey to solve the 1988 cold case of David Jackson. She reveals how a chance encounter with Jackson’s son and online research uncovered a deadly family secret. Velasquez discusses red flags during interviews, the suspicious circumstances surrounding David's disappearance, and how DNA testing confirmed the remains. The shocking confessions and ultimate plea deal for his ex-wife highlight the complex nature of justice and family betrayal.
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Explorer Son Sparks Cold Case Break
- Detective Donna Velasquez reopened David Jackson's 1988 disappearance after meeting his son John at an Explorer post.
- John's immediate suspicion about his mother's secrecy became Velasquez's first major break in the cold case.
Follow Behavioral Red Flags In Cold Cases
- Use family and circumstantial red flags like rapid adoption and evasive behavior to reopen cold missing-person probes.
- Employ covert recordings or interviews when a subject resists cooperating to test inconsistencies.
Search Engines Reopen Cold Cases
- A simple Google search on unidentified remains linked David's profile to bones found near Miramar.
- Digital databases and search tools converted a cold missing-person file into a homicide investigation.