JENNINGS, La (KLFY)– When it comes to unsolved cases, it can take decades to close them. One city that is no stranger to cold cases is Jennings.

News 10 spoke with the city’s police chief about how he and his department handle cold cases. What some consider cold cases, the Jennings Police Department calls them unsolved active cases.

Jennings Police Chief Denny Semmes said that although his department is experiencing a shortage, it’s not stopping them from actively investigating each case to close them.

“We’re a small department and we’re extremely shorthanded at this time, so we have to work active cases as they come in to our, you know, to our department.” Semmes said.

Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes said, like other departments, experiencing a shortage leaves a limited amount of time and resources for cold cases. However, his department keeps each unsolved case active and relies heavily on technology and DNA

“As advancements come along in the DNA process, we like to revisit some of these cases that have DNA evidence to see if it possibly can generate a suspect off of.” Semmes said.

Semmes said his department goes back over cases with a fresh set of eyes and new investigators will go over each case and look at them to see if there is something that might be usable or might have been missed. As long as a case is still open, he said his investigators are working until it is solved.

“If it’s an unsolved case, especially a homicide or a violent crime, that case remains active with us until it’s solved or brought to a conclusion.” Semmes said.

One case Semmes said that is still active and one he is determined to close is a double homicide that happened back in 2013.

“The one who’s most disturbing to me is the Charles and Katrenna Williams case.” Semmes shared.

He said the couple was murdered in their home while their four-year-old child was left with their bodies for days.

“Oh, it was an extremely violent crime, and it is a case that I still believe we can solve to this day.” Semmes said.

Semmes said it’s important that his department close each unsolved case to help give families closure. However, unless new evidence or a witness comes forward, his department will have a harder time solving them.

“Without the community’s help, witnesses and, you know, tips coming in, we are dead in the water. We can’t do our job.” Semmes said.

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