Detectives and troopers in Massachusetts are using an unexpected tool – playing cards -- in their search to find clues and solve unresolved cases.

Since the playing card campaign launched in February, 7,000 decks of cards have been distributed throughout state prisons to garner leads and tips about unsolved homicides and violent crimes. Each of the 52 cards in the deck features a photo and description of an individual who was slain, a missing person, or unidentifiable.

The campaign, which is funded by the Department of Corrections and a grant by the Season of Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to providing funding to law enforcement agencies and families to help solve unresolved cases, has led to more than 40 tips from inmates thus far. District attorneys throughout the state selected the cases featured on the cards.

“The big idea was to hopefully generate leads from inmates and to create awareness of these unsolved cases in the prison population, and obviously encourage offenders to provide information that might help us solve these cases,” Massachusetts State Police Det. Lt. Ann Marie Robertson said.

Robertson was appointed unit commander of the Massachusetts State Police Unresolved Case Unit when it launched in 2019 after serving as a state police detective in Bristol County for 15 years.

The idea for the playing cards first began in 2005 when a detective in Polk County, Florida was inspired by the decks of cards that were being distributed to American soldiers to help identify Saddam Hussein and other terrorists. The detective focused on identifying victims of unsolved crimes and within the first three months of Florida’s playing card program, law enforcement solved three murders, Robertson said.

This is the first edition of cards for the Massachusetts Unresolved Case Unit. While the program has already led to dozens of tips, the goal is to encourage more prisoners to come forward.

“We’re just hoping someone has a conscience, because every tip that we get from someone who sees a card or remembers something is another step towards achieving justice for the victims of these crimes, their loved ones and their family members,” Robertson said.  

Heather Bish has been a victim advocate since her sister, Molly Bish, disappeared in 2000 and was later found dead. Molly was a 16-year-old Warren resident who disappeared from her lifeguard post at Comins Pond. Molly’s remains were later discovered by a hunter on Whiskey Hill in Palmer in June 2003.

Her disappearance sparked the largest sustained search effort by the Massachusetts State Police as troopers scouted over more than 50 acres searching for clues, said Dr. Ann Marie Mires, director of the forensic criminology program at Anna Maria College, who was the forensic anthropologist at the scene who identified Molly’s remains.

When Bish first heard about the creation of the Unresolved Case Unit, she was excited when her sister’s case was added to the caseload. Her sister is one of the victims featured on the first edition of the playing cards.

After 22 years, Bish hoped that further investigation and fresh eyes would shine some light on the case. However, she says the unit’s efforts are disappointing.

“I was so excited that we might have a little more life, or vibration, or movement going on in the case, but instead we got these cards,” Bish said.

Bish said she understands that the cards are an investigative tool for unresolved cases, and even had the opportunity to speak with some podcasters who worked with the Florida detective who originally created the program.

“It was really interesting to hear how they got started, and how it’s sort of moving across the country, and the results that they’ve seen, is really fascinating,” Bish said, adding she wished the Unresolved Case Unit would focus on new technologies as well, particularly when it comes to DNA.

“Again, I think it’s one tool to use for unresolved cases. But I’m sort of over here in the science area saying, ‘Well, we’ve had all these science techniques being used across the country too like familial DNA and genetic genealogy and we’re not really using them so much in Massachusetts,’” Bish said.

In 2021, Bish worked with local lawmakers to craft a familial DNA bill that sought to bring expanded use of DNA technology that is currently being used in 14 other states to Massachusetts.

At the time, the proposed bill looked at cases in which DNA found at violent crime scenes was run through the state’s Combined DNA Index System. When a direct DNA match to the criminal is not found, the bill would have allowed law enforcement to run another search, one that looked for relatives of the perpetrator. The search would have only looked at relatives already in the index system.

The proposed bill did not pass the State Senate Ways and Means Committee.

“I don’t think [the playing cards] are a bad idea,” Bish said. “I think if that’s what you’re resting your laurels on for three years, if this is what you’ve done with an Unresolved Case Unit, then it is a little disappointing as a family member of an unresolved case. What else are you doing?”

Robertson explained that while the Unresolved Cases Unit is an investigative arm, it is the offices of district attorneys throughout the state that dictate what cases the unit investigates and the means of their investigations.

Robertson is assigned to unresolved cases in Bristol County and said she cannot comment on the specifics of the Molly Bish case, which is in Worcester County.

Robertson could not comment on the specifics on DNA technology since she is not an expert in that field, however she supports Bish in her push for familial DNA.

“We are happy about this bill and excited that Heather Bish is helping this because I think she is a great person to push this case because it is something that we want to be passed in Massachusetts,” Robertson said.

Images from the playing cards are available online on the Massachusetts State Police Unresolved Case Unit Facebook page. Anyone with information or tips about unresolved crimes in Massachusetts are asked to call 1-855-MA-SOLVE (1-855-627-6583).