Crime & Police

Photos: The 26 States More Likely Than Colorado to Solve Your Murder

Scripps News recently crunched numbers on unsolved U.S. murders and discovered that the total of 200,000-plus since 1980 actually exceeds the population of Des Moines, Iowa. The data also reveals which states do the best job of solving homicides, and Colorado's ranking is mediocre, with 26 states cracking a higher...
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Scripps News recently crunched numbers on unsolved U.S. murders and discovered that the total of 200,000-plus since 1980 actually exceeds the population of Des Moines, Iowa.

The data also reveals which states do the best job of solving homicides, and Colorado’s ranking is mediocre, with 26 states cracking a higher percentage of such cases. Count down the photo-illustrated roster below, drawing from Scripps data — and to see the original post, featuring much more information, click here.

See also: Top Ten Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Denver

Number 1: Wyoming

Number of murders: 692.00

Number of arrests: 603.00

Rate: 87.10

Number 2: Oklahoma

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Number of murders: 9,709.00

Number of arrests: 7,972.00

Rate: 82.10

Number 3: Maine

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Number of murders: 1,006.00

Number of arrests: 816.00

Rate: 81.10

Number 4: Idaho

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Number of murders: 1,355.00

Number of arrests: 1,088.00

Rate: 80.30

Number 5: North Carolina

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Number of murders: 23,875.00

Number of arrests: 19,138.00

Rate: 80.20

Continue to see more states likelier than Colorado to solve your murder.

Number 6: Wisconsin

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Number of murders: 7,350.00

Number of arrests: 5,831.00

Rate: 79.30

Number 7: Nebraska

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Number of murders: 2,198.00

Number of arrests: 1,730.00

Rate: 78.70

Number 8: West Virginia

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Number of murders: 3,481.00

Number of arrests: 2,689.00

Rate: 77.20

Number 9: Arkansas

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Number of murders: 8,105.00

Number of arrests: 6,247.00

Rate: 77.10

Number 10: Alaska

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Number of murders: 1,694.00

Number of arrests: 1,303.00

Rate: 76.90

Continue to see more states likelier than Colorado to solve your murder.

Number 11: South Carolina

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Number of murders: 13,853.00

Number of arrests: 10,534.00

Rate: 76.00

Number 12: Pennsylvania

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Number of murders: 28,833.00

Number of arrests: 21,674.00

Rate: 75.20

Number 13: North Dakota

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Number of murders: 378.00

Number of arrests: 278.00

Rate: 73.50

Number 14: Iowa

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Number of murders: 2,126.00

Number of arrests: 1,550.00

Rate: 72.90

Number 15: Texas

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Number of murders: 70,807.00

Number of arrests: 50,921.00

Rate: 71.90

Continue to see more states likelier than Colorado to solve your murder.

Number 16: Utah

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Number of murders: 2,291.00

Number of arrests: 1,646.00

Rate: 71.80

Number 17: Missouri

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Number of murders: 17,068.00

Number of arrests: 12,197.00

Rate: 71.50

Number 18: Virginia

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Number of murders: 18,282.00

Number of arrests: 12,991.00

Rate: 71.10

Number 19: Washington

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Number of murders: 8,827.00

Number of arrests: 6,257.00

Rate: 70.90

Number 20: Kentucky

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Number of murders: 7,591.00

Number of arrests: 5,187.00

Rate: 68.30

Continue to see more states likelier than Colorado to solve your murder.

Number 21: South Dakota

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Number of murders: 622.00

Number of arrests: 423.00

Rate: 68.00

Number 22: Connecticut

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Number of murders: 5,668.00

Number of arrests: 3,838.00

Rate: 67.70

Number 23 (tie): New Jersey

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Number of murders: 16,531.00

Number of arrests: 11,198.00

Rate: 66.70

Number 23 (tie): Mississippi

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Number of murders: 7,961.00

Number of arrests: 5,392.00

Rate: 66.70

Number 25: Tennessee

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Number of murders: 17,840.00

Number of arrests: 12,033.00

Rate: 67.40

Number 26: Delaware

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Number of murders: 1,407.00

Number of arrests: 932.00

Rate: 66.20

Colorado

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Number of murders: 7,416.00

Number of arrests: 4,865.00

Rate: 65.60

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Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

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