Murdered, missing, unidentified … the tragic stories that inspire Britain’s cold case investigators
When Dave Grimstead left the police after more than 30 years, he knew just what he wanted to do: solve some of its most intractable mysteries. The founder of Locate International explains why the country needs him and his volunteers
TL;DR
- Cold case investigations are complex, lengthy, and require significant team effort, unlike depictions in crime dramas.
- Former detective Dave Grimstead founded Locate International (LI) in 2019 to address unsolved missing person cases and unidentified bodies.
- LI utilizes trained volunteers to investigate cases that often fall through the cracks due to police resource limitations and dwindling attention spans.
- The organization has successfully identified individuals and provided answers to families, emphasizing the importance of restoring dignity and closure.
- LI's work highlights patterns in missing person cases, such as the disproportionate affect on women in murder investigations and the isolation of unidentified male victims.
- Grimstead draws parallels between LI's mission and community support hubs he experienced early in his career, emphasizing compassion and persistence.