CBI Hopes Unique Playing Cards At Jails Will Deal Them Tips In Cold Cases

DENVER (CBS4) - The Colorado Bureau of Investigation hopes a deck of playing cards will help it solve dozens of cold cases.

The cards are being distributed at jails around the state. Each card features a victim of an unsolved Colorado crime. As inmates deal a hand, investigators hope the cards will lend a hand in solving a cold case.

"Each deck will feature 52 cases," said Audrey Simkins, an analyst with the CBI. "We'll feature victims of unresolved homicides, long-term missing person cases and unidentified remains … hopefully it sparks some interest and someone is willing to talk."

There are nearly 1,600 cold cases in Colorado, such as a triple-homicide at a Littleton bowling alley in 2002, or the 2004 murder of gift shop owner, Rhonda Holland.

"Each victim is featured on a separate card and then there's a short narrative that talks about the date that crime occurred," Simkins said.

It's a crime-solving tool that's played well in the 17 states, including Texas and South Carolina.

"Several of them have seen resolved cases and convictions in those cases."

Though the cold case cards have only been in play for about six months in Colorado, some inmates are already laying their cards on the table.

"Four dozen calls have come in through the tip line and we're sort of in different stages of sorting through those tips. So if nothing else, the phone is ringing where it wasn't before."

Right now there are about 5,000 decks in jails around the state. Each deck costs about a $1.15 and the CBI is footing the bill for now. They hope to find additional funding for creating more decks with other cold cases soon.