Sheriff Todd Announces The Implementation Of The Cold Case Playing Card Program

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Sheriff Reuel A. Todd today announced the implementation of the Cold Case Playing Card Program in the Oswego County Correctional Facility.  The program is a project of the Center for Hope, which is operated by Doug and Mary Lyall, of Ballston Spa, NY.  Their daughter, Suzanne, a former student at SUNY Albany, has been missing for over ten years.  Thus, the Lyalls have dedicated themselves to helping other families face the crisis of a missing person.  This program seeks new leads concerning missing persons and unsolved homicides.  Decks of playing cards will be distributed to inmates at the county correctional facility.  Each card contains a photograph and information about a missing person case or an unsolved homicide.  Inmates will be able to anonymously call a toll-free tip line and will be rewarded if the tip leads to a successful arrest or prosecution.

The program, funded through a grant by Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno is modeled on a similar program introduced in Florida that resulted in several homicides being solved and new leads on numerous “cold case” investigations.  The New York State Sheriffs’ Association is providing monies for the rewards and has distributed the cards to all New York jails.

“Inmates have a lot of time on their hands and they are in a unique position to know, see, and hear things that may not reach the eyes and ears of law enforcement,” Mr. Lyall said.  “Mary and I are hopeful that this initiative will solve crimes and bring a measure of peace and hope to families praying for the safe return of a loved one,” or answers to an unsolved homicide.

Sheriff Todd said that the playing card program, “may help law enforcement agencies to solve a case of a missing person or an unsolved homicide.”  He added, “As the inmates use the playing cards it is hoped they will retain the information displayed on them and that it will enable them to bring forward any useful information they might know or hear regarding a cold case.  Whether some information helps to solve the Suzanne Lyall case or perhaps another case, the playing card program is a great attempt to get information to law enforcement agencies working on these missing person and unsolved homicide cases.”

The deck includes a card containing information about missing person, Heidi Allen, a cold case of the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office.  Sheriff Todd says he is “hopeful that the playing card program will assist in bringing closure to this case that has remained open since her April 3, 1994 abduction from the D&W Convenience Store located in the Town of New Haven.  We consider this to be an open case until we bring Heidi home to her family.”

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