Click link to view video: JSO meets with Families of Slain Children

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A murder investigation into the death of a 10-year-old solved nearly three decades later has sparked hope for local families looking for answers in unsolved cases.

Coping with the loss of a loved one is something no one wants to endure. But for a group of Jacksonville residents, it’s what brings them together every month at the Families of Slain Children.

“Several bullets were fired and one bullet hit the garage door and it went through the wall and ricocheted and hit my son in the head,” said Beverly Jenkins Simmons, whose son was killed nearly two years ago.

But when their hope for answers turns into a years long ordeal, for some family members all they want to know is that someone in law enforcement still cares.

So Wednesday night was their chance to ask questions and get an inside look at how the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office solves homicides.

“So many people getting killed her in Jacksonville and we weren’t seeing results from long term,” said Beverly McClain, executive director of Families of Slain Children Inc. said.

The Cold Case team with JSO has more than 1,400 cases on its plate. One unsolved murder even dates back to World War II.
Investigators reminded the group that no case is beyond solving, They added that for some, all it takes is that small detail you might overlook.

Submitted by First Coast News Web Staff
Thursday, February 7th, 2013, 12:03 am