JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Families of unsolved homicide victims in Jacksonville said the Florida Cold Case Unit will help families waiting for justice and answers.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the launch of the Cold Case Investigation Unit which will help law enforcement agencies with unsolved crimes. The unit will be made up of experienced prosecutors and investigators.
“If we can crack a cold case, we are removing one of the most violent deadly offenders that are roaming the streets of Florida,” Moody said in the announcement press conference.
One Jacksonville mother is still waiting to find out who killed her son, Maurice Hobbs, in 2017 just days after his 18th birthday. She said it makes her happy knowing that more killers could be off the streets soon.
“I’m grateful for that,” Latasha Hobbs said. “I wish it would not have taken this long for everyone to realize that there’s an issue with unsolved homicides, but here we are now.”
Hobbs added that it’s hope that keeps families like her’s going.
“If we don’t have hope we don’t have anything,” Hobbs said. “Hope is what we hold onto, hope is what drives us into the next day.”
Ever since her son was killed in 2017, she has handed out bracelets that say “justice for Maurice”.
According to Project Cold Case, there are more than 20,000 open homicide cold cases in Florida since 1965. This makes Florida the sixth-highest state for unsolved homicide cases, behind California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Michigan.
Kalisha Jefferson and Shakeria Stokes are the mother and sister of Tre Lyons. Lyons was found shot and killed in a car in West Augustine in late 2023.
Both said they’re excited about this new unit and believe Lyons’ case could be solved sooner.
“You’re not going to get away with it, turn yourself in while you’re ahead or while you can,” Stokes said.
News4JAX Crime Analyst Tom Hackney said he is excited to see the Florida Cold Case Unit formed.
“These families spend sometimes decades, agonizing over the loss of their loved ones. A cold case is instantly warmed up with new information comes forward. Even decades later somebody with even the smallest bit of information can come forward, share that with law enforcement, and restart an investigation into one of these murders. Organizations such as Crime Stoppers allow people with information to come forward and truly remain anonymous, sharing that information,” Hackney said.
The attorney general’s office said the unit is already working on multiple cases and is producing results.