TAMARAC, Fla. (AP) — Families of unsolved murder victims in Florida may soon have a new tool to seek answers, thanks to proposed legislation by Sen. Rosalind Osgood and Rep. Christopher Benjamin.
The bills, SB 350 and HB 837, aim to make it easier for residents to request a reinvestigation of cold cases, specifically those that have gone unsolved for at least five years. The person making the request must be an immediate family member, in-law, or legal guardian of the victim.
The legislation, known as the “Decker-Backmann Act,” is named for Marilyn Decker, whose 1987 murder in Davie remains a mystery, and Clifford Backmann, who was robbed and killed by an unknown assailant in 2009. Ryan Backmann, Clifford’s son, has since created Project: Cold Case to help families share tips, support each other, and advocate for policy changes.
According to Project: Cold Case, there are nearly 20,000 unsolved murders in Florida today.
If passed, the measure would require all law enforcement agencies in the state to review unsolved murders in their jurisdiction upon receiving a written application from a victim’s family member. The agencies would have to determine if a full reinvestigation of the case could identify new leads or a likely perpetrator.
The legislation also outlines the procedures for conducting a reinvestigation, including a time limit and reporting requirements to Florida International University’s Global Forensic and Justice Center. The bills, SB 474 and HB 529, are currently awaiting a first committee hearing.
In conclusion, if the legislation is passed, it would go into effect on July 1, 2025, and each law enforcement agency in the state would be required to train its employees and officers to properly carry out cold case reviews and reinvestigations.