King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng is proposing a "cold case" unit for the King County Prosecutors office and he wants to give the go-ahead for deputy prosecutors to begin working on 550 unsolved homicide cases in King County from the past 40 years.

Maleng is seeking funding from the King County Council for two deputy prosecutors and a paralegal who would work with local law enforcement in developing cold cases for prosecution. The project is expected to last four years and would enlist the help of two additional senior deputy prosecutors from the office's Most Dangerous Offender Program who have extensive experience in prosecuting homicide cases.

Much of the work of a "cold case" unit would make use of recent advancements in forensic science technology, such as DNA testing of evidence.

Maleng doesn't expect that all 550 cases would be solved, but is encouraged by the recent advancements in DNA testing which led to the arrest and conviction of serial killer Gary Ridgway in the Green River homicide investigations.

"There is no statute of limitations on murder. Unsolved cases may grow old, they may grow cold, but they are never over and should never be forgotten," Maleng said. "We have found that modern forensic science can heat up a cold case, and provide powerful new evidence to solve an unsolved mystery, identify a suspect and lead to a conviction," he added.

Advances in DNA testing also helped solve the 1993 murder of singer Mia Zapata. Defendant Jesus Mezquia was convicted in 2004 and is serving a 36 year sentence.

Today, Maleng is also recognizing the ten years of service and hard work by the office's Most Dangerous Offender Program (MDOP). Deputy prosecutors from MDOP go to crime scenes and work closely with police in developing cases. "The record of success of the MDOP team over the past ten years is remarkable," Maleng said.

See also: Statement of King County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng: M-DOP / Cold Case Press Conference

Dated: September 21, 2005