Big Bend Cold Case Task Force Launches New Website

The Big Bend Cold Case Task Force, a joint effort between the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD), Leon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the State Attorney’s Office of the Second Judicial Circuit (SAO), has launched a new website to provide the public with access to information on unsolved cases in the region.

The website, Talgov.com/ColdCaseTaskForce, is now the central hub for information on local cold cases, including case summaries, photos, and ways to submit tips. The site reflects the task force’s motto: “No Case Forgotten, No Truth Untold.”

Since its formation in 2023, the task force has made measurable progress in reviewing decades-old cases and uncovering new leads. Most notably:

• In 2024, task force members closed the region’s oldest unsolved homicide, the 1957 stabbing death of 27-year-old Dorothy Thomas, after confirming the primary suspect, Harry Barth, who died in 2019, was responsible for the murder. The case was closed through exceptional clearance.
• Task force members have also renewed efforts into the 2014 disappearance of Leslie McCoy, who was last seen at age 47. McCoy would be 58 today. Her case has been revitalized and active follow-up is underway.
• New leads and witnesses have been identified regarding the murder of Frank Owens that occurred on September 13, 2017, in Chattahoochee, FL. Owens, 66, was the victim of a homicide committed during a robbery. The investigation continues with task force members seeking additional leads from the public.

The newly launched website also makes it easier than ever for residents to share potentially crucial information. Each cold case listing includes contact details, and visitors can either speak directly with a detective at 850-410-7611 or submit anonymous tips to Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS.