Seattle Detective Solves Decades-Old Homicides

Rolf Norton has made it his mission to crack the city's cold cases.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Seattle homicide detective Rolf Norton has spent his career investigating the city's unsolved murders, some dating back decades. Through dogged persistence and innovative investigative techniques, Norton has been able to crack a number of these long-cold cases, providing closure to victims' families and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Why it matters

Solving cold cases not only provides justice for victims and their loved ones, but it can also help identify patterns and prevent future crimes. Norton's work highlights the importance of never giving up on unsolved homicides and the difference one determined investigator can make.

The details

Over the years, Norton has utilized a range of modern forensic tools and tactics to breathe new life into old cases, from DNA analysis to digital evidence recovery. His work has led to the arrest and conviction of several suspects who evaded justice for many years.

  • Detective Norton has worked on cold cases throughout his 25-year career with the Seattle Police Department.
  • Some of the homicides he has solved date back to the 1980s and 1990s.

The players

Rolf Norton

A veteran homicide detective with the Seattle Police Department who has dedicated his career to solving the city's cold cases.

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What they’re saying

“I made a promise to the victims' families that I would never stop looking for answers. It's the least I can do for them.”

— Rolf Norton, Homicide Detective (Seattle Times)

What’s next

Detective Norton plans to continue his work on unsolved homicides, using the latest forensic technology to identify new leads and bring closure to more families.

The takeaway

Rolf Norton's unwavering dedication to solving Seattle's cold cases demonstrates the power of persistence and innovation in law enforcement, and the difference one determined investigator can make in providing justice for victims and their loved ones.