Jacksonville-area man pushes for statewide cold case database

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nearly five years after his father’s murder, a Jacksonville-area man is pushing for legislation he hopes will solve cold cases statewide.

Ryan Backmann is a victims’ advocate for Compassionate Families. The organization has a local database for crime victims. Some of the cases have been solved, but many have not. One of the unsolved cases is the murder of Backmann’s father, Clifford Backmann.

“There comes a point where the police don’t have any more leads,” said Ryan Backmann. “They don’t have anybody to look for. They don’t have any evidence. They don’t have anywhere to go. And that’s a hard thing for a family member to realize, that no one is looking for your loved one’s killer anymore.”

Backmann is pushing for a statewide cold case database that would provide photos and information about all Florida homicides. Visitors to the website would also be able to leave tips.

“The fact that anybody, anywhere in the world, could find this website and provide that one little on piece of information,” he said. “It’s immeasurable how important that is.”

Backmann and Florida Sen. Aaron Bean drafted a bill that was filed last March. Now they’re working to get a revised copy ready for next legislative session.

"Sen. Bean and I met a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “We reviewed the draft. I met with Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. They had some great pointers on what we could do to make this bill better.”

Backmann is also working on funding for the database. There are several options being considered.

Support from Florida agencies for the bill will also be important. Backmann said he has support from JSO and has met with the State Attorney’s Office. He is also hoping to get several other sherff's departments on board.

WJAX