Senate unanimously approves Hicks’ cold case bill

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Carri Hicks has won unanimous Senate approval for a measure aimed at unsolved violent crimes throughout the state. Hicks filed Senate Bill 1636 after holding an in-depth interim study on cold cases in Oklahoma, which looked at what other states have done to strengthen their responses to unsolved crimes.

Hicks said one of the most well-known cold cases in Oklahoma is the murders of Cheryl Genzer and Lisa Pennington, who vanished from the State Fair in 1987. Their bodies were later discovered in a shallow grave, and their parents died still awaiting justice for their daughters.

“There are at least 1,000 Oklahoma families who have been waiting years and years for justice after their loved one was murdered. Oklahoma also has hundreds of missing persons cases that are still unsolved,” said Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. “This legislation gives families a voice and process to finally get the answers they need and bring those responsible to justice.”

SB 1636 will:

• Create a formal pathway for families by allowing designated loved ones to request a review.
• Require an independent review by investigators who were not part of the original case.
• Set accountability timelines, including written confirmation within 30 days, with the review completed within six months, and requiring transparency if that time is extended.
• Modernize investigations by requiring evaluation of new forensic testing, witness re-interviews, and updated investigative methods.
• Ensure communication with families by mandating updates and a final meeting to explain findings.

Should a review of the case result in a determination that no further investigation is warranted, the case will not be reviewed again for at least five years.

“This legislation does not burden the system – it actually strengthens it and strengthens public safety,” Hicks said. “Without this legislation, Oklahoma families have no guaranteed process for review. SB 1636 makes that possible, and ensures accountability, transparency, and the use of modern tools for solving crimes. I appreciate my fellow members for their support of this bill on behalf of the thousands of families still seeking answers and justice.”

SB 1636 now moves to the House of Representatives and will be carried by Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, the House principal author.

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Carri Hicks at 405-521-5543 or Carri.Hicks@oksenate.gov