Flint, Michigan – Crime Stoppers of Flint & Genesee County is embarking on a new initiative to revitalize investigations into unsolved crimes within the community. The organization’s Executive Director, Julie Lopez, emphasizes the importance of community involvement in providing even the smallest piece of information, which could prove crucial in solving these cases.

The initiative, known as the Cold Case Playing Cards Initiative, involves distributing a deck of 52 cards, each featuring information and photos of victims from various unsolved cases across Flint and Genesee County. According to Lopez, these playing cards serve as more than just a compilation of unsolved crimes – they also serve as poignant memorials to individuals lost to violence.

Among the cases featured on the playing cards are 43 homicides, six double homicides, and three missing person cases, including that of Randa Jawhari, who disappeared from her Fenton apartment 15 years ago. Jawhari’s sister, Diana Anderson, highlights the personal impact of these unresolved cases, emphasizing the lasting effects on the victims’ families and loved ones.

The initiative holds personal significance for Lopez, who herself is connected to an unsolved crime – the 2011 murder of her father-in-law, Pablo Lopez. Marsha Salcido, Lopez’s daughter, reflects on the ongoing pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence and hopes for closure as the initiative unfolds.

With the playing cards set to be distributed in the Genesee County Jail, the objective is to generate new leads for detectives to pursue in these cold cases. Family members of victims, like Aretha Pettigrew, whose husband was killed in 2018, express gratitude for this opportunity to potentially bring closure to their cases through increased awareness and community involvement.

Law enforcement emphasizes the crucial role of community cooperation in solving these cold cases, underscoring the importance of individuals coming forward with any relevant information. Fenton Police Detective Tom Cole stresses the duty of community members to speak up, as collaboration is essential in resolving these long-standing cases.

The initiative has been made possible through a generous grant from Season of Justice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting investigative agencies with DNA testing and advocating for resolution in cold cases. Additionally, the distribution of cards in care packages to inmates upon release aims to further expand awareness and potential leads in these unsolved cases.