In 2005, Tommy Ray, a special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, came up with an idea that would revolutionize cold-case homicide investigations: making a game out of it. Details from unsolved cases were put onto the faces of traditional 52-card decks and distributed to inmates. It was the hope that between hands of poker the incarcerated inmates would give investigators new leads. Although the idea was originally met with skepticism, the cards proved to be a rousing success and are now being implemented in 18 states, with more considering the idea. Across the country, the cards have helped to solve 35 of 40 proven cases.
