‘You’re trying to locate a witness from 40 years ago’: Metro’s Homicide Unit addresses which cold cases heat up with a second look

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - We're learning about how Metro's Homicide Section is investigating over 1,200 cold cases in the valley.

This all comes as the department recently cracked a 30-year-old cold case , bringing justice to the murder victim, and closure to her family.

Lieutenant Jason Johansson with Metro's Homicide Unit says that cold case involving Melonie White was recently solved with cooperation from the suspect's family members to get a DNA profile.

But he tells FOX5 it's not like the movies, and these things take time. Especially when there are so many cases lined up.

"There is a lot of work to be done, and that work is being done, but unfortunately, I can't work all 1,200 at the same time," Lieutenant Johansson said.

That isn't stopping Lieutenant Johansson's team of three full-time detectives, six part-timers and a sergeant.

He says they're solving more cases these days because the unit didn't even exist before.

"Oftentimes we had reviews of cold cases where we would then assign detectives on top of their normal duties of responding daily to homicides that were occurring," Lieutenant Johansson said. "We have not always had a standalone cold case section."

Now that they do, they're solving cases, sometimes with the help of the Vegas Justice League , which is credited with helping close nine cases in the valley by funding forensic DNA testing.

Like the 30-year-old cold case of Melonie White who was murdered near Lake Mead Recreation Area in 1994.

Police say Arthur Joseph Lavery strangled her to death.

Lieutenant Johansson explains how this cold case heated up.

"We identified family members related to the suspect. Took a little bit of communication on our side to convince them to provide us DNA so that we can confirm our DNA results. Once we did, we finally got the hit that allowed us to close the case," Lieutenant Johansson said.

But it's not always that easy, especially when DNA evidence is compromised or when time gets in the way.

"Oftentimes, you're trying to locate a witness, sometimes from 40 years ago," Lieutenant Johansson said. "More concerning, there's times when the DNA is degraded, it's contaminated."

But what makes Metro take a second look at certain cold cases? Lieutenant Johansson explains. "Is there maybe a bottle that wasn't tested or processed for DNA. Is there fingernail clippings? Is there a sexual assault kit that wasn't worked? Or was all this stuff worked, but it was worked maybe back in 2003 and maybe now, with the further advancements in DNA technology, should we go back and review it?"

There are several cases Metro is reviewing right now, with Lieutenant Johansson telling FOX5 they have a few that are in the final stages of being able to be solved.

They're just waiting on a few more pieces of the puzzle to come together.