DNA Funding by The Cold Case Coalition
In the 1980s, Henry Lee Lucas confessed to hundreds of murders he did not commit which prematurely closed cases letting dangerous perpetrators walk free. This Initiative seeks to remove the DNA cost barriers for agencies in order to reopen or pursue unresolved cases connected to Lucas.
- Taki Oldham, Director of The Confession Killer (Netflix)
The Cold Case Coalition has a long history of advocating for victims, collaborating with law enforcement, and pioneering innovative solutions to cases once considered unsolvable. In 2019, the Coalition began compiling an extensive archive on Lucas cases and has already been instrumental in reopening two previously closed Lucas cases. One of them is the case of Marla Scharp, murdered in 1978 in Provo, Utah.
Read more about Marla's case here >>
A major challenge to bringing resolution to many cold cases is a lack of accessible and affordable forensic DNA-related services available to law enforcement. The Coalition wants to help alleviate that burden and remove those barriers for our law enforcement partners.
CCC is helping to remove the cost barriers to reopening and solving these cases prematurely closed due to false confessions.
Use our easy application to apply for your case(s).
Photo credit: (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune)
Henry Lee Lucas, once branded America’s most prolific serial killer, confessed to hundreds of murders across the country during the 1980s—claims that both shocked the nation and closed countless unsolved cases. Most were later proven false, raising serious concerns about the integrity of investigations that relied on convenience over truth.
As a result, innocent families were left with false closure, while the real perpetrators of violent crimes walked free. Reexamining these cases is not just about correcting the historical record—it is about delivering long-overdue justice and holding the true criminals accountable.