The Homicide Unit responds to and investigates homicides, suspicious death incidents, deputy involved shootings, and other critical incidents. It is made up of two active squads, each with five detectives, and supervised by a Homicide Detective Sergeant.

The Homicide Cold Case Unit investigates murders that have remained unsolved for one year or more. The unit also investigates long-term missing persons and unidentified persons cases. The Cold Case Unit consists of three homicide detectives supervised by one homicide Detective Sergeant.

Homicide Cold Case Register
A “cold case” is defined by Arizona state law (A.R.S.13-4271) as a homicide or a felony sexual offense, which remains unsolved for one year or more after being reported to a law enforcement agency, and that has no viable and unexplored investigatory leads.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit maintains a Cold Case Register, which consists of the name of any victim, victim’s family member or other lawful representative of a victim of a cold case.

The register provides current contact information used by law enforcement personnel in the event that new developments in the case occur.

To submit a request for inclusion in the Cold Case Register, please contact the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit.

You can also send a request by letter to:
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office,
Major Crimes Division – Homicide Unit
550 West Jackson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Or, call us at 602-876-1087

Homicides by the Numbers: