COLUMBUS — The Columbus Division of Police have created a YouTube series with the hope the community will help police get justice for homicide victims and their families.

“The Unsolved Cases" series focuses on cases from 2021 to today. 

“They're not forgotten by their families and they're not forgotten by our detectives,” said Assistant Chief for Columbus Police Greg Bodker. “We want to get the stories out about their family members who were taken from this earth in some form of homicide and hopefully receive tips and solve it.”

What You Need To Know

  • Columbus Police created “The Unsolved Cases," YouTube series with the hope the community can help get justice for homicide victims

  • So far, Columbus Police have solved 59 homicide cases from 2023 and 20 from previous years

  • "The Unsolved Cases" videos are a compilation of sound from detectives, evidence of the cases and pictures of the victims

  • Columbus Police are the only law enforcement agency in Ohio trying this approach

The videos are a compilation of interviews with detectives, visual aids, evidence and pictures of the victims, police said. All interviews and research are conducted in-house. 

The first episode highlights the unsolved case of 23-year-old Lante Huges, who was killed in August 2021. Detectives have been on the case for almost two years, sharing evidence such as the involvement of a bright blue car with damage.

Assistant Chief Bodker said there are a few different factors that go into choosing a case for the series.

“It was the unique evidence that is involved in the case,” said Bodker. "It was at a point that detective Bulger thought maybe the public can help us push this a little further forward and it was the passion of the detective to say, 'I'd really like to do this and get this information out there.'” 

According to Columbus Police’s latest homicide report, so far this year the division has solved 59 homicide cases from 2023 and 20 from previous years. Police said that's largely due to tips received from the community.

Bodker said the goal of these videos is not only to bring closure to families, but to remind criminals the police are exhausting all avenues to track them down.

“I hope they see that and they realize that we are trying as many different avenues as possible to solve these crimes, and they remember that this never goes away,” said Bodker. “If you were responsible for the murder of Lante Hughes, ultimately it might be this year, it might be this month, it might be next year but ultimately, we will identify you.”

Other police departments in the country have a similar platform to what Columbus police are doing, but as of now, Columbus is the only police division in the state trying a video-series approach.

To view the first video, visit the Columbus Division of Police YouTube page.  

 

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