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Cold case paying cards include Southeast Kansas murder cases

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — A new way of dealing with unsolved homicides, missing persons or unidentified remains has been developed by Kansas law enforcement agencies: distributing a deck of Kansas Cold Case Playing Cards to generate tips that may help resolve cases, including some in Southeast Kansas. 

“The idea is that prisoners often know about criminal acts committed by others and may be able to provide valuable information resulting in cases being solved,” said Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves. 

“I submitted a couple of cases from Cherokee County, but the one selected for this first set is the unsolved murder of Harmon Fenton and Sarah Palmer, whose bodies were discovered dumped southwest of Columbus in March 1997,” said Groves. “There will be additional sets in the future with other cases featured.” 

Another unsolved case highlighted in the Kansas Cold Case Playing Cards deck is that of Floyd Johnson, who was found dead of a gunshot wound in Coffeyville in 2009. 

The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), in partnership with the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP), the Kansas Sheriff’s Association (KSA) and the Kansas Peace Officers Association (KPOA), developed the deck of 52 Kansas Cold Case Playing Cards. The decks will replace the traditional card decks available in correctional facilities and county jails across the state with the hope that those familiar with a case will come forward with information. 

The project has been adopted in other states and has generated leads resulting in solving crimes. This concept was first piloted by Florida and has continued to gain support and use throughout the U.S. 

In March 2021, Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Director of Victim Services Audrey Cress brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to begin development of the Cold Case Playing Cards project in Kansas.  

This was at the prompting of Kansas Secretary of Corrections Jeff Zmuda, who was familiar with the concept and its potential for success. Other states have solved multiple cold case homicides, missing person cases and suspicious deaths by making these cards available. Committee membership included law enforcement partners, representatives from victim services, facility- based programs, private industry, media and families whose lives have been impacted by homicide. 

Working in sub-groups, the committee has developed submission processes and forms, procedures selecting and prioritizing cases, how to publicize the projects and cases and how to receive and follow-up on tips. Cases with the highest probability of being solved were selected for the first round of cards.