DEKALB COUNTY COLD CASE TASK FORCE HOSTS 4TH ANNUAL MISSING PERSONS AND DNA EVENT

Monday, May 18, 2026

Those Unable to Attend Can Still Access Resources

Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston and DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office Director Beoncia Loveless thank the public for attending the DeKalb County Cold Case Task Force's 4^th Annual Missing Persons and DNA Event. The event took place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Avondale Estates Town Green located at 64 N. Avondale Road, Avondale Estates, GA 30002.

The Missing Persons and DNA Event served as a one-stop-shop for families and friends of missing persons to share information about their loved ones with investigators, open or add to missing persons reports, and donate DNA samples that may assist with identification efforts.

The event was also open to members of the public who wished to learn more about the work of the DeKalb County Cold Case Task Force, a coalition consisting of staff from the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the DeKalb County Police Department.

DeKalb County Cold Case Task Force Grant Funding

In October 2022, the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office was awarded a three-year Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program grant in the amount of $496,045.00 to identify the remains of 27 individuals found in DeKalb County. The funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), is intended for use in improving the reporting, transportation, processing, and identification of missing persons and unidentified human remains.

The DeKalb County Cold Case Task Force is using these funds to catalog, report, test, identify and return to families the unidentified remains of the individuals. To date, the Task Force has identified 17 individuals through their work. Meanwhile, additional unidentified remains cases have come in, increasing the total number to 32. Information and sketches for the current unidentified cases are available on the Task Force's website: https://bit.ly/DeKalbColdCase.

Please contact the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office Cold Case Tip Line at (404) 371-2444 if you believe you may have information on a cold case in DeKalb County. Callers may remain anonymous.

Investigative Work Continues

While May is recognized as Missing and Unidentified Persons Month, the work of the DeKalb County Cold Case Task Force continues year-round. Those who missed the event and want to share information about a missing persons or unidentified remains case are encouraged to contact the Task Force through our website at https://bit.ly/DeKalbColdCase.

Anyone who believes a loved one may be missing and would like to file a missing person's report with the Cold Case Task Force is asked to gather the following items, if possible. These documents will be scanned and returned.

• Photos of missing loved ones
• Photos of their tattoos (if applicable)
• Original police reports (if possible)
• Medical documentation or missing person's ID documents
• For families wishing to submit DNA samples, if possible, please bring two family members from two different branches of your family tree (mother's and father's side) for the most robust CODIS search.

Even individuals who do not have a known missing loved one may be able to help identify someone else's family member. A distant DNA connection from someone in the community can provide critical leads in unidentified remains cases and help return a name to someone who has gone unidentified for years. Community members interested in participating can learn more and request a DNA kit through our website.

Partnerships

In addition to the member agencies that make up the DeKalb County Cold Case Task Force, several partner organizations attend and support the Missing Persons and DNA Event, including:

• Raymond Green International Outreach of Hope
• NamUs
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)- Georgia Chapter
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
• The Black and Missing Foundation
• Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office
• Cobb County Medical Examiner's Office
• Gwinnett County Medical Examiner's Office
• The Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns