Prject: Cold Case

Cold Cases Database

This database currently consists of unsolved homicides from 50 Florida counties, 46 U.S. states, and 3 international countries. All victims have been submitted by law enforcement or the victims' families. Additional counties and states will be added to this database as time and funding permit.

To submit your loved one for consideration please visit our Project Cold Case>
Please note: A bug occurred during a recent update and reset many of the dates to January 1, 1970. We are currently working to correct these mistakes.

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16 cases found.
CCR: 1979-0480
Date Reported: May 19, 1979
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Virginia Ries
Age 19
Gender Female
Race Caucasian/White
DOB 12/20/1958
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Knife/Stabbing
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident Location Webster, Florida, 33597
Sumter County
L.E.A Sumter County Sheriff's Office, Wildwood, Florida
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Sumter County Sheriff's Office at 352-569-1600
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: April 22, 1979
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Donna Tattersall
Gender Female
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Ligature/Strangulation
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident Location 67 Park Place
Providence County
L.E.A Pawtucket Police Department, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
On April 22, 1979, the victim was last seen in the Firehouse Lounge. The victim’s body was later discovered behind 67 Park Place in Pawtucket, RI. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled. A suspect was charged, but later acquitted of the crime. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Pawtucket Police Department at (401) 727-9100.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: March 27, 1979
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Phoebe Winston
Age 23
Gender Female
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident Location Cleveland Heights Blvd/Rolling Woods Lane
Lakeland, Florida, 33813
Polk County
L.E.A Polk County Sheriff's Office, Winter Haven, Florida
On October 28, 1977, 23-year-old Phoebe Winston was reported missing from her home in Plant City. She was last seen driving a 1964 light blue Ford 4-door sedan, which was recovered on March 3, 1978, off Cleveland Heights Blvd. in Lakeland. On March 27, 1979, her skeletal remains were found in an open field northeast of Cleveland Heights Blvd. and Rolling Woods Lane in Lakeland. She had been shot in the head. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at (863) 298-6379, or send an email to coldcase@polksheriff.org.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: January 9, 1979
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Patricia Doyle
Gender Female
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Undisclosed
Location At Large
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident Location I-95 Rest stop
Grant-Valkaria, Florida, 32950
Brevard County
L.E.A Brevard County Sheriff's Office - Titusville, Florida
On January 9, 1979, workers became suspicious of a motor home parked all day at an I-95 rest stop near Grant and summoned authorities. The bodies of Franklin Shumaker and Patricia Doyle, both of Deland, were found inside. If you have information about this case call the Brevard County Sheriff's Office at (321) 633-8413 or contact CRIMELINE at 1-(800)-423-TIPS. If you call CrimeLine with tips about a case, you can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to a Murder arrest.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: January 1, 1970
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Brenda Bancroft
Age 20
Gender Female
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Suffocation
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident Location 500 block of Spring Lake Crescent
Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23451
L.E.A Virginia Beach Police Department, Virginia Beach, Virginia
On Monday evening, December 24, 1979, Brenda Bancroft was last seen by her family in the 4100 block of Thalia Drive. She had left her parent’s home driving her 1978 orange Datsun B-210 sedan and was due home later the same evening. She attended a Christmas Party at Admiral Nicks Restaurant located in the 8100 block of Shore Drive in Norfolk. A missing persons report was filed by family members. On Friday, December 28, 1979, Ms. Bancroft’s deceased body was found in the 500 block of Spring Lake Crescent which is a short distance from her home. Her body was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office where the cause of death was determined to be suffocation. As a result, Brenda’s death was ruled a homicide. Brenda was a 20 year old white female who had light brown hair, blue eyes, 5’ 5’’ tall weighing 153 pounds. When Brenda did not wear her contacts, she wore prescription glasses
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: January 1, 1970
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Alice Eskew
Age 18
Gender Female
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident Location Seashore State Park
densely wooded area just off Shore Drive near bypass
Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23451
L.E.A Virginia Beach Police Department, Virginia Beach, Virginia
​​​On Tuesday, September 4, 1979, Alice Eskew was last seen at home in the 3100 block of Arctic Avenue. She left her home walking towards Laskin Road just before dusk. A missing person’s report was filed with police after she failed to return home that evening. Her body was found on Thursday, September 6, 1979 at approximately 5:00 pm in the densely wooded area of Seashore State Park just off Shore Drive close to the bypass. Ms. Eskew’s body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. Alice’s cause of death is blunt force trauma; therefore the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Alice was 18 years old and a very petite white female who was 5’ 1’’ tall weighing 80 pounds. She had long blonde hair and dark eyes.