STATEWIDE — The innovative Victim Assistance Program for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) expanded in 2019 to provide services for the families of cold case homicides and long-term missing person cases in the state.

The Victims of Crime Act grant program allows the CBI to assign two victim advocates to help serve families of loved ones whose cold case homicide is unsolved or are designated as long-term missing in Colorado.

According to statistics from Colorado’s Cold Case Task Force, there are more than 1,300 cold case homicides, 325 long term missing and 29 unidentified remains cases in the state.

“As the state coordinator of the Colorado Cold Case Database, and supporter of events such as Colorado Missing Persons Day, we believe it’s critical to expand our victim advocate services to offer support to families who have lost loved ones,” said CBI Director John Camper.

CBI victim advocates will be available to help families locate support groups and other resources, serve as liaisons with law enforcement or simply spend time listening and offering a compassionate response to their needs.

If families and friends of loved ones who have been murdered or who have been missing for more than three years would like victim advocate services, they are asked to call CBI Victim Advocate Hazel Heckers by phone at (303) 239-4649 or email [email protected]. Spanish-speaking services are also available by calling (303) 239-4312.

Members of the CBI’s Victim Assistance Program also offer support for victims of identity theft and fraud. The CBI provides the state’s only full-time victim advocates for victims of identity theft and fraud, 24 hours per day.