Local law enforcement wants to improve communication to solve cold cases. The effort called the International Association of Cold Case Investigators hopes to find answers for families. Right now more than 180 cases in Tulsa are unsolved.
16-year-old Dena Dean was last seen here in the parking lot of Town West Shopping Center 11 years ago. Her family hopes this new approach will give them answers. The tears in larry dean's eyes say it all. It has been 11 years since he last saw his daughter Dena. Since June 6th, 1998, not a day goes by that her image doesn't come to his mind. He says, "Everyday, several times a day." Dena disappeared and her body was found in a field six days later. The case has never been solved. Dean asks, "What caused her to take her last breath? I don't know."
Detectives, media, forensic experts, and others are meeting to try to give Dean and other survivors answers. Sgt. Mike Huff, a TPD Homicide Detective says, "For us they are the inspiration. We may think we've worked too much this week, then its like wait a minute these people live with this everyday."
Maggie Zingman also wants to know who killed her daughter, Brittany Phillips, five years ago. She says, "If we catch him at least I know he'll be off the streets... A network like this where they have media, police, doctors, nurses; so much information can be shared."
Dean says, "I know she is up there watching me." For that reason alone, Dean wants his daughter to know he is still with her. He says, "I go up to the hill she was found and sit out on the road and talk to her." He adds, "I will be relieved a little in my quest for justice."
