INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Cold cases on the Treasure Coast area are getting a second look thanks to a unique program at Indian River State College that is pairing criminal justice students with real, unsolved investigations from local law enforcement agencies.
The Institute for Cold Case Investigations at IRSC allows students to work hands-on with decades-old case files provided by sheriff’s offices in Indian River and Martin counties. The program, founded in 2018, is part of the college’s criminal justice curriculum and is designed to give students practical experience while assisting agencies that often lack the time and resources to revisit older cases.
Under the guidance of the Institute’s founder, Dr. Kimberlie Massnick, and experienced local investigators, students examine original police reports, crime scene photographs, witness statements, and evidence logs. Their task is to review the material with fresh eyes, identify inconsistencies, and explore investigative leads that may have been overlooked years ago…