Project: Cold Case

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The following photos feature cold case victims that were recently submitted to Project: Cold Case by their families.

Click on the photo to learn more about each case and consider sharing to help raise awareness for the victims and their families.

Please remember that our organization does not investigate cases. We advocate, educate, and help raise awareness. Speculation on the details of the case is not helpful on this platform. Comments that are deemed inappropriate and/or potentially hurtful will be removed.

"And sometimes, against all odds, against all logic, we still hope."

I’m really honored to share that I’ll be speaking at the National Organization for Victim Assistance’s 52nd Annual Training Event this July.

I’ll be presenting alongside Ryan Backmann (Project: Cold Case) and Whitney St. Andre (The Advocacy Blueprint by True Crime Research Training), where we’ll be leading a session titled Protecting Stories: Advocating for Ethical True Crime Collaborations. Our focus will be on equipping advocates and survivors with the tools to navigate media collaborations ethically and confidently.

The National Organization for Victim Advocacy 52nd Annual Training Event takes place July 21–23, 2026, in Las Vegas and brings together more than 2,000 victim advocates and crisis responders from across the country. It’s a space to learn from subject matter experts, connect with others doing this work, and continue building stronger, more survivor-centered practices.

For 52 years, this conference has represented the heart of advocacy - people coming together to support, learn, and grow. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of it 💙

If you’re attending, I would love to connect with you there!

Learn more or register at novatrainingevent.org

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦: 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧, 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫

We are excited to kick off our Meet The Team series by introducing the people behind Project: Cold Case and the mission that drives our work.

This week, we are featuring Ryan Backmann, Founder and Executive Director of Project: Cold Case.

Ryan founded Project: Cold Case after the murder of his father remained unsolved, turning personal tragedy into purpose. Through his leadership, Project: Cold Case has become a source of advocacy, awareness, education, and support for families living with the pain of unresolved homicide. His passion for this mission continues to help ensure victims are remembered and surviving families know they are not alone.

We are grateful for Ryan’s vision, leadership, and dedication to families across the country.

𝓙𝓾𝓷𝓮 2026 𝓢𝓾𝓹𝓹𝓸𝓻𝓽 𝓜𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼!

Our June in-person support meeting will be held on Thursday, June 18 from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m., and our virtual support meeting will be on Thursday, June 25 from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m..

Our support meetings are reserved for survivors only. For more information, you can call our office at (904) 525- 8080, and keep a look out for next month's support meeting schedule if you aren't able to make it this month!

𝐏𝐂𝐂 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭- 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐬

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣.”

Full PCC Spotlight Article linked in comments, including news stories, photos, and more.

On Thursday, June 11, 1981, A foul odor coming from an apartment on SW 88th Street in Miami, Florida led to the discovery of the decomposing body of 29-year-old, Amparo Torres Arias. She had been shot and killed by an unknown suspect(s) in her home. According to the Miami-Dade Police Department, Amparo was known to keep to herself with the exception of several unidentified men that visited her apartment from time to time. Investigators stated that Amparo's apartment was well kept and fashionable. Indications are that there was no sign of forced entry or ransacking of the home before, during, or after the attack. Police have not indicated any motive. Reports indicate that two coffee cups were found at the scene, but it is unknown if they have been tested or retested for DNA. Amparo had a 2-year-old son, Alex, who had gone to stay with family in Canada just before her murder. Alex has no memories of his mother but his love for her and his desire to find justice is evident as he shares his story with those willing to listen. Amparo's family continues to advocate and fight for judicial resolution in her case.

If you have any information on the unsolved murder of Amparo Torres Arias, please contact the Miami Dade Sheriff’s Office at (305) 471-2350 or email at [email protected]. To remain anonymous, and possibly be eligible for a reward, call Miami-Dade & The Florida Keys Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477.

Such a special tradition by Duval County Clerk of Courts remembering and honoring their former colleague, Isaiah Bing, whose life was tragically taken almost 7 years ago💙

Our former coworker and friend Isaiah was a longtime member of the Clerk’s Office and devoted Captain America fan who was tragically killed in 2019. To pay tribute we suited up today in our best superhero attire to celebrate our annual Isaiah Bing Superhero Day.

To honor his memory and the compassion he showed to everyone around him, the Clerk Family donated to Isaiah 117 House Duval Co FL, which provides physical and emotional support for children awaiting foster care placement. Isaiah’s spirit lives on through the children and families who continue to be helped in his memory.

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚-𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝

A trauma-informed approach recognizes that survivors of homicide are not only grieving a violent loss, but may also be living with ongoing stress, fear, uncertainty, and repeated emotional triggers. In unsolved cases, trauma can be prolonged because there is often no sense of resolution or accountability.

Trauma can affect memory, concentration, communication, trust, and a person’s ability to process information. This is important to understand when working with survivors. A family member who seems overwhelmed, forgetful, emotional, or disconnected may be responding to trauma, not a lack of interest or cooperation.

Trauma-informed advocacy means leading with compassion, patience, choice, and respect. It means creating space for survivors to ask questions, process information at their own pace, and feel supported without judgment.

With Mental Health Awareness Month coming to a close, we here at Project: Cold Case know how much the loss of a loved one can impact one’s mental wellbeing.

Today, we urge you to take a breath and check in with yourself.

1. Ask yourself how you’re feeling.
2. Take notes of the things that have been heavy on your heart and mind lately.
3. Identify what you need today. There is nothing wrong with being selfish and taking care of yourself first.
4. Write down the things that have been bothering you or say them out loud to help release them.
5. Reach out to the Project: Cold Case office at (904) 525-8080 to find out when our next virtual and in-person support meetings are so you can connect with other survivors, share stories about your loved ones and talk through the grieving process.

We know each survivor is pouring all they have into fighting for justice for their loved ones, but the fight is only as strong as the fighter. Take charge of your mental health so you can be the strongest version of yourself.