Largo database helps solve cold cases

LARGO - Each year the number of unidentified bodies increases across the country.

As of today approximately 40,000 bodies are unidentified, according the Department of Justice. But that's all about to change.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System is bringing law enforcement, medical examiners and families together with one website.

"If you have a son or daughter that went missing from Largo and you knew they were going to Key West. You can type in the two addresses and you can see every medical examiner office, every coroner office, every law enforcement office between here and there," Billy Young of the National Forensic Science Technology Center said.

The organization runs the NamUs database out of Largo.

Narrowing down the search may help find a loved one. Each year thousands of people go missing or bodies are found without identification.

Since the database launched in 2005, about 10 cases have been solved. Mainly because NaMus is an online program and anyone can help.

"When you're a family member or a parent of a missing child, that's all you're going to be doing until you have closure. This database provides people the opportunity nationally for missing persons," Young said.

Twenty-two manila folders sit unsolved at the Pinellas-Pasco County Medical Examiner's Office. They folders represent unidentified bodies known as John Doe.

Bill Pellan is the Director of Investigations at the ME's office, and he's hoping NaMUS will help close some of the department's cases.

"Now instead of just relying on the family, this opens it up to anybody that may now that person. And there are a lot of people out there that may want to help and want to be involved," Pellan said.

The database is still being put together. Today more than 9,000 missing and unidentified persons are in the system and more are expected in the future.

"More sets of eyes looking at it. It's like the posters you see at Walmart. Except this is online," Young said.

For more information about the NamUs, click on over to www.namus.gov.