Meet the Tennessee teens and their teacher who solve cold cases

The kids in Alex Campbell's class stalked the serial killer like gumshoe sleuths from a paperback novel.

They traipsed around a mountain in East Tennessee looking for a murder weapon. They called the offices of district attorneys to try to get cold cases re-opened. They contacted a knot expert to look at ligature marks on victims' necks. They held news conferences to rally public support for their work hunting a serial killer whose victims — all young women, many of whom were sex workers — were discovered in 1984 and 1985.

Since 2018, Elizabethton High School's social studies classes (those taught by Campbell) have identified victims, worked up profiles that wowed a former FBI special agent and then identified a man they have called a prolific killer. Along the way, they did a side project that helped an innocent woman get out of prison. They even contributed to a couple of podcasts, including one called "Murder 101."

This class project wasn't some academic exercise. This was real life and real death.

After finding answers in one case, in which they linked a long-haul trucker to a 1985 murder, the teacher and students at Elizabethton High believe they have discovered even more truth that law enforcement agencies should confirm. Campbell and his class think they've solved five more cases.

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2024/04/15/elizabethton-high-school-students-win-recognition-for-solving-crimes/73068272007/

I would have LOVED being in a class like this!