As Acting Governor, Attorney General Mayes Proclaims Unresolved Case Awareness Week, Recognizes September as National Cold Case Month

PHOENIX — As Acting Governor, Attorney General Kris Mayes has officially proclaimed September 20–26, 2026, as Unresolved Case Awareness Week in Arizona and recognized September as National Cold Case Month. The proclamation honors the victims of unsolved crimes and the families who continue to seek answers.

"Every unsolved case represents a real Arizonan — a son, a daughter, a parent, a friend — and a family still waiting for answers," said Attorney General Kris Mayes. "This week, we honor those victims and recommit to making sure no case in Arizona is ever abandoned simply for lack of resources."

Hundreds of homicide and missing person cases across Arizona remain unsolved. Unresolved Case Awareness Week was organized by families of cold case victims, survivors, advocates, and community partners, including Arizonans for Effective Public Safety, to draw attention to these cases and the resources needed to solve them.

The proclamation notes that advances in forensic science, DNA technology, and investigative genealogy now make it possible to solve cases once considered unsolvable, but only when law enforcement agencies have the staffing, training, and resources to pursue those leads. It calls on the Arizona State Legislature to provide dedicated, sustained funding to state and local law enforcement agencies specifically for cold case investigations.

The proclamation also encourages all Arizonans to support victims' families and survivors and to come forward with any information that may help solve these cases. Anyone with information about an unsolved case is urged to contact local law enforcement or the Attorney General's Cold Case Unit.