In recognition of National Cold Case Month, the International Homicide Investigators Association is highlighting a powerful conversation from Flint to Flame, IHIA’s interview series exploring the cases, experiences and evolving investigative practices shaping the homicide investigation profession.
In the latest episode, host Dave Eddy, IHIA Director of Training Operations, sits down with Detective Andrea Isom of the Dallas Police Department’s Cold Case Unit to discuss the work behind some of the most challenging investigations: cases that have remained unsolved for years or even decades.
Their conversation explores the realities of working cold cases, the importance of taking a fresh look at existing evidence, and how advances in DNA technology, CODIS and investigative genetic genealogy are creating new opportunities to develop leads and find answers for victims and their families.
Supporting the Investigators Behind the Cases
The conversation also highlights Tab 7 Corp, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed in 2021 by three members of the Dallas Police Department Homicide Unit. The organization was created to support Dallas homicide detectives by helping fund advanced training and technology resources that can strengthen their investigative work.
During the interview, Isom discusses the importance of giving investigators access to the tools, resources and opportunities they need to continue developing their skills and pursuing difficult cases. Tab 7 is another example of the commitment within the unit to invest not only in individual investigations, but also in the detectives responsible for carrying them forward.
.jpg)
A Wall That Tells a Story
That sense of history is also visible inside the Dallas Homicide Unit itself.
The office features a striking collection of framed photographs documenting investigators, crime scenes and moments from the unit’s history. Rather than traditional office décor, the walls have become a visual record of the people and cases that have shaped Dallas homicide investigations over the years.
The photographs shown during the interview range from older black-and-white images to more recent scenes, creating a connection between generations of investigators. Together, they serve as a reminder of the history of the unit, the work that came before and the responsibility carried by those continuing it today.
It is a fitting backdrop for a conversation about cold cases: investigations may span decades, technology may change and detectives may come and go, but the commitment to finding answers remains.
Watch Flint to Flame
Flint to Flame brings investigators, subject-matter experts and law enforcement professionals together for candid conversations about homicide and death investigations. Through real-world experiences, emerging investigative tools, case studies and lessons learned, the series offers insight investigators can carry back to their own agencies and cases.
Watch the latest episode with Detective Andrea Isom and explore previous episodes of Flint to Flame to continue the conversation.
