Vanessa Buckner will never forget Sept. 22, 2012 – the day her son, Quincy Bell, was shot and killed. Those responsible for pursuing justice on behalf of Bell have not forgotten him, either. Under a new initiative spearheaded by Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston, his murder might yet be resolved.
Pinkston Tuesday at the Hamilton County Courts Building announced the launch this week of a multiagency cold case homicide unit, which will tackle the approximately 120 unsolved homicides the county and its municipalities have recorded since the mid ‘70s.
“With the increase in DNA and fingerprint technology, now is the time to begin a systematic review of those cases,” Pinkston said. A cold case is an unsolved criminal investigation that remains open pending the discovery of new evidence.
The division will be led by retired major crimes investigator Mike Mathis, who has more than 20 years of experience with the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) homicide unit. “He’s familiar with most, if not all, of the cold cases,” Pinkston said.
Joining him will be Chattanooga Police Sgt. Bill Phillips, who’s been with CPD homicide since 1994. Phillips will work full-time on solving cold cases.
Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond also plans to commit resources to the initiative. The multiagency effort will also involve the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Red Bank, East Ridge, and Collegedale Police Departments.
Pinkston said he launched a cold case homicide unit in the interest of pursuing justice. “We haven’t forgotten about the victims or their families,” he said. “We also want to let the perpetrators know we haven’t forgotten what they did.”
When Buckner learned about the new cold case homicide unit, she was thrilled to know the long road to justice for her son could someday be over. “My son was close to my heart,” she said. “It won’t bring him back, but it will help to give me peace.”