The Cold Case Project of Monterey County (CCPMC) is dedicated to advancing justice for victims of unresolved violent crimes in Monterey County. In partnership with law enforcement, we support the investigation of unsolved homicides, sexual assaults, missing persons cases, and unidentified human remains by funding advanced forensic technologies and modern scientific methods. Through donor support, we help bring answers, accountability, and hope to families and communities still waiting for resolution.

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Cold Cases are not closed cases. They are waiting cases. And together, we can bring resolution and justice to victims, their families and communities.

We're Booking It… Your Donations at Work

29 funded grants to further investigative leads
$98,565 spent

Types of cases assisted:
(4) Unidentified Human Remains
(1) Sexual Assault
(21) Homicides

Average turnaround time to process a grant request: 2 days

CaseWatch: Updates on Cold Cases in Monterey County

Kudos to the Monterey County Cold Case Task Force and the Monterey County District Attorney's office for securing (3) guilty pleas this summer. These plea agreements covered (2) homicides and (1) sexual assault.

We remember victims: Miguel Angel Chavez Zavala, Fernando Santos and Jane Doe.

(2) cold case homicide cases are awaiting trial.

CSUMB Student David Orta Wins Challenge Coin Design Contest, Boosting Monterey County Cold Case Awareness

A California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) student is helping provide a lasting symbol for an initiative with a deeply personal mission: ensuring Monterey County’s cold cases are never forgotten.

David Orta has been named the winner of the Challenge Coin Challenge, a collaborative campus initiative hosted by the Cold Case Project of Monterey County (CCPMC). The competition invited CSUMB students, faculty, and staff to design a commemorative medallion reflecting the dedication required to seek answers for long-unresolved cases. The custom-manufactured coins will be distributed by the CCPMC as a token of high gratitude to individuals making significant contributions to cold case resolutions, including financial donors, dedicated volunteers, investigative experts, and community advocates.

Engaging the university campus brings a new generation of fresh perspectives, modern skills, and creative talent into an issue that reaches far beyond the classroom. Student involvement plays a vital role in keeping these unresolved investigations, and the victims at the center of them, in the public consciousness.

For victims and families, there are no cold cases. Loved ones continue to live with unanswered questions every single day. Partnering with CSUMB students gives us a meaningful way to honor those families while encouraging a new generation to understand the power of persistence, compassion, and the pursuit of justice.

The initiative bridges academic talent with local community service, giving students a tangible outlet to see how their skillsets can impact real-world advocacy. The design contest's $250 grand prize and the physical manufacturing costs of the winning coin were generously funded by an anonymous donor.

The CCPMC Board of Directors extends its sincere thanks to CSUMB leadership for their enthusiasm and structural support of this community service project. The organization would like to give special recognition to:

Andrew Lawson, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs
Suzanne Zivnuska, Dean, College of Business
Bude Su, Chair, School of Computing and Design
Kaci Turpin, Director of New Student Programs
Gracie Sanchez, Senior Brand and Marketing Strategy Lead
Jennifer Andrew, College of Business Marketing Specialist
Walter Ryce, University Communications, Public Information Officer
Shyam Kamath, Founding Dean & Professor Emeritus, College of Business

Special thanks to the anonymous donor who underwrote the funding of the Challenge Coin Challenge and the coin production for the CCPMC.

The finished CCPMC Challenge Coin — front

The finished CCPMC Challenge Coin — back

About the CCPMC Challenge Coin

The rolling agricultural fields honor Monterey County’s rich farming heritage and deep roots, while the iconic Monterey cypress standing above the Pacific waves represents strength, perseverance and endurance. High above, the radiant sun shines down as a beacon of hope, bringing long-sought light and clarity into the shadows of unsolved cases to ensure no victim is ever forgotten.

At the center, Lady Justice with her scales and sword embodies the unwavering pursuit of truth and accountability for victims and their grieving families. Flanking her are the scientific pillars of modern investigation: the DNA double helix, representing state-of-the-art forensic genetic testing used to identify suspects and restore names to unidentified remains, and the fingerprint, honoring the foundational forensic tools that continue to connect crucial clues across decades. Together, they symbolize how relentless dedication and cutting-edge science unite to ensure no cold case victim is ever forgotten.

Monterey County, together we make a difference speaks to the desire and support of our community to stand with the CCPMC and to help bring resolution to cold cases throughout Monterey County.

🎉 We Made the Cut! We’ll Be Part of Monterey County Gives 2026!

We are thrilled to share that the CCPMC has been accepted to participate in Monterey County Gives 2026!

Thanks to our participation in McGives 2025, this incredible community came together and generously raised more than $38,000 to help further cold case resolution. We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported us and helped make that possible. ❤️

For those who may be unfamiliar with Monterey County Gives, it is a special annual year-end giving campaign created through a partnership between the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Monterey County Weekly, and Monterey Peninsula Foundation. The campaign brings our community together to support local nonprofits accepted to participate.

For the CCPMC, this phenomenal community effort is our major fundraiser of the year, helping us continue our work toward resolving cold cases and bringing answers to families who have waited far too long.

Even more exciting, donations made through the campaign will be eligible for a community match, increasing the impact of your generosity.

If you are considering making charitable donations this holiday season, we respectfully ask you to consider supporting the CCPMC through Monterey County Gives. Every contribution helps us move closer to answers and resolution.

📅 The 2026 campaign launches November 12, 2026.

More information will follow as we get closer to launch. Thank you for standing with us and for believing in the importance of this work.

Honoring Dave Hober, Retiring Monterey Police Chief

After nearly 39 years of dedicated service in law enforcement, our dear friend, respected colleague, and valued Board Member, Chief Dave Hober, will retire on November 15, 2026, from his position as Chief of Police for the City of Monterey.

While we will certainly miss seeing Chief Hober in uniform, the Board of Directors of the CCPMC is incredibly grateful and honored that Dave will continue his service to our organization as a volunteer Board Member.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dave has demonstrated exceptional leadership, compassion, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to serving others.

As Chief Hober so beautifully shared:

CCPMC has been a highlight … I deeply respect and care about each of you and the work you all do to help those who have suffered so much. Staying on the board will allow me to still be involved with a worthy cause as well as be connected to each of you.

We are deeply grateful for Dave’s friendship, his leadership, and his continued belief in the mission of the CCPMC. His nearly four decades of service have made a lasting difference in our community, and we are honored that his journey of service will continue with us.

Congratulations, Chief Hober, on an extraordinary career and thank you for everything you have given to our community. We look forward to many more years of friendship, service, and making a difference together.

Out About Town

The CCPMC Board Members continue to share the importance of keeping cold cases alive and keeping victims and their families at the forefront of our work.

We’re grateful to the following organizations for recently inviting us to speak and for helping raise awareness about the importance of remembering victims, supporting their families, and keeping cold cases in the public conversation:

King City Rotary Club
Monterey County Grand Jurors Association
Salinas Rotary Club

Thank you for your support. Your willingness to listen, learn, and help keep these cases alive makes all the difference.

Case Highlight: Richard Coleman

On March 4, 1995, Richard Coleman, a 28-year-old resident of Pacific Grove, was found dead in his apartment on the 300 block of Grand Avenue. The incident came to light at 9:17 pm, after an anonymous 911 call from a nearby payphone reported a possible medical emergency in the apartment.

Upon arrival, Pacific Grove police officers discovered that the front door had been forced open — a burglary had also taken place at the apartment days earlier. Officers found Richard’s body in the kitchen. He had been beaten and strangled to death, and it appeared as if there had been a struggle in the apartment. The anonymous caller has never been identified, and no arrests have been made in this case.

The DA’s Office Cold Case Task Force has been working with Pacific Grove Police Department detectives on this investigation, examining all possible items of physical evidence. It is possible that state-of-the-art DNA techniques may provide a link to Richard’s killer.

Read Richard’s case

The Power of Community, Innovation and Persistence: A President’s Message

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We recently brought the messaging about the CCPMC and cold case resolution to the CSUMB Otters. We are so appreciative of the warm reception our idea had among the CSUMB leadership and the importance they conveyed about how they want to be present for our community.

We had the opportunity to review several entries, each with its own charm and appeal. As you can see from the story in this newsletter, a student’s vision and a Board’s mission combined to create a gift of gratitude to those committed to cold case resolution.

As a volunteer on the District Attorney's Cold Case Task Force as well as President of the CCPMC, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and perseverance required of the investigators who take on these challenging cases. They get a lot of “no matches” on the journey to finding a “yes.” The CCPMC grant program makes testing available to help move these cases forward. Every “no” helps the journey too, as it rules out suspects and allows the investigations to proceed diligently in the pursuit of justice.

Cold case investigators and their support teams are a rare combination of grit, tenacity, problem-solving, and truth pursuers. I want to take a moment to thank all of them throughout our County for their unwavering commitment to victims, their families, and our communities. Soon, those vested with the honor of bringing cold cases to resolution may receive a small token of our appreciation for their efforts — a coin meant to bolster their spirit and serve as a lasting encouragement of the vital mission they carry forward every day.

With gratitude and determination, Ann Kern President Cold Case Project of Monterey County