At the request of the law enforcement community, the FBI developed the "Latent Hit of the Year" award program. The award is presented annually to an outstanding latent examiner or officer who solved a major violent crime using the FBI’s IAFIS database. If you are interested in submitting a success story for consideration as "Latent Hit of the Year," contact the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division at FBILatentHit@leo.gov.
The trailer video introduces the award, the past winners, and the FBI resources and technology used to solve the cases.
FBI to honor OPD detective, technician: An Omaha Police Department detective and a crime lab technician will be honored for their diligent work in solving a 33-year-old murder case. Read More
In 1969, Diane Jackson was robbed and brutally murdered on her way to work in Houston, Texas. Although fingerprints and evidence were left at the crime scene, the case went cold for over 30 years. Watch the video to see how they solved this cold case.
In 1971, Gerald Jackson was found murdered at his home in San Diego, California. Despite the crime scene evidence gathered, the crime went cold for nearly 40 years. Watch the video to see how they solved the case.
In October 1978, a Sarasota, Fla., resident was found stabbed to death in his home. As investigators exhausted all leads, the case became cold and a killer remained at large. Watch the video to see how they solved the cold case.
In May 1977, the Escondido Police Department in California responded to a crime scene where an unidentified male was found brutally beaten to death in the garage of a residential construction site. Watch the video to see how they solved this cold case.
In the small town of Big Rapids, MI., a crime shocked the small community when a 89-year-old woman was found brutally murdered on her bedroom floor. Watch the video to see how they solved this cold case.
Scroll through the image gallery to see all “Latent Hit of the Year” Award Winners