COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Division of Police is launching a new tip website in an effort to crackdown on the city's unsolved homicides.
The 'Unsolved Murders' page will serve as a way for people to submit tips directly to the department, either by phone or anonymously online.
The page lists information for homicides that took place between the years 2019 and 2022. By clicking on the month of when the victim died, you can read specific details about each incident.
The site also provides images of the victims, which can be submitted by family members and loved ones.
"We want the pictures showing them when they were at their best," said Columbus police Commander Robert Strausbaugh.
Columbus saw the highest number of homicides ever reported in a single year in 2021. Now, more than one month into 2022, police have already reported 10 homicides in the city.
Last year, Columbus police solved 52% of the homicides in 2021. That's down from nearly 63% in 2018.
Columbus Police hope by creating the web page with names and pictures of victims, it will bring in tips to make arrests in cases like Tracy Tate's sons.
“Someone needs to pay for killing these babies,” Tate said.
Tate knows the pain of losing a child from violence all too well. Both of her sons are homicide victims.
Jaleel Carter Tate was shot and killed in September 2020. His brother, Jerick Tate was killed less than a year later, in August 2021.
Neither of their homicides have been solved.
Malissa Thomas St. Clair, the founder of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children argues it's important for the community to see the victims.
“To be able to show them in a light, other than a criminal activity and to tell the community please, say something. The smallest tip can break a case open,” said Thomas St. Clair.
“My hope is that this sparks interest in the community by looking at pictures like these and saying, you know what? I need to step up, I need to tell a detective what I know about these murders,” Strausbaugh said.
The division has added unsolved cases from this year back to 2018, with the hopes of adding every cold case Columbus police has investigated.
There are links to give information to the cold case unit, or anonymously through CrimeStoppers.
“I think more people, especially those under 30, who are constantly on their phones doing this, will go to this,” Strausbaugh said.
Strausbaugh is hoping to give families like Tate's the answers they deserve.
Tate explained an arrest would mean “peace, and I want to know why.”
You can watch the full briefing below: