Sheriff Cary announces the implementation of the Cold Case Playing Card Program

Sheriff Cary today announced the implementation of the Cold Case Playing Card Program in the Madison County Jail.  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, has been missing for over ten years.  She was a student at Albany SUNY and 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 jail, and each card contains a photograph and information about a missing person case or an unsolved homicide.  Inmates will be able to anonymously call a tip line, and will be rewarded if the tip leads to a successful arrest or prosecution.  The New York State Sheriff’s 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 a safe return of a loved one” or answers to an unsolved homicide.

Sheriff Cary said that the playing card program “might just help law enforcement agencies to solve a case of a missing person or an unsolved homicide”.  He added, “We will put them on the tables and let the inmates use the cards.  We hope they will read them and remember the messages.  Inmates can call a tip line toll free, and whether some information helps to solve the Suzanne Lyall case or some other 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 program is modeled on a similar program introduced in Florida that resulted in solving several homicides and new leads on numerous “cold case” investigations, and has been funded through a grant from Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.