Beyond DNA testing and interviewing suspects, the Knoxville Police Department is now using video reenactments to help them track down evidence and solve homicide investigations that may have gone cold.
"What we want to do is send a message," said Deputy Chief Kenny Miller with KPD. "We want to send a message to families that we're still involved in any of these cases, we want the suspects to know that we're still looking for them."
A team of KPD officers has spent the last several months creating a video reenactment of an unsolved killing from 2011. All the writers, directors, camera crews and even actors are KPD officers.
The idea came from the need to dig up new evidence or find witnesses from crimes committed years ago.
"It'll showcase the victim and the human side of the victim and hopefully garner some support from the community to come forward for those who have information," Miller said. "These victims are fathers and mothers and brothers, and we want to give them a voice."
KPD hopes the videos will help victims come forward with any information they may have regarding unsolved crimes.
While KPD has only made one video so far, they say it will not be the last.
They plan to make more videos highlighting more recent homicides soon.
KPD will release the video on social media sometime in the next week.