CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Police have announced creation of a new task force that will tackle cold cases and violent crime.
The West Virginia Violent Crime Task Force (WVVCT) is a partnership with state police, the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and will be an extension of the with with the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program that pursue cold cases through untested sexual assault testing kits.
According to a press release, officials said the special force is needed due to the mounting number of unsolved violent cases in the state.
The VCTF will work statewide with resources like local law enforcement agencies, the WVSP Forensic Laboratory, the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Coordinators, SAKI Investigators and West Virginia Intelligence Exchange to pursue closure in these cases.