Link + Video (http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico/albuquerque/deck-of-cards-heats-up-cold-cases/24727782)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Bernalillo County is getting closer to cracking unsolved murder cases, thanks in part to a deck of cards.

The 52 playing cards with the names and faces of victims were released by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office to area prisons six months ago.

Capt. Sid Covington told Action 7 News the experiment is paying off. His department has received a flood of calls, emails and other tips on the unsolved mysteries.

"We've received calls even out of state from prisons. We've received calls in reference to homicides and cold cases in New Mexico," said Covington.


The three cases that have received the most attention include the murder of Tyra Perry, who was found in the east mountains in 1988, the murder of Alicia Acosta in 2009 and the 1988 disappearance of Tara Calico in Valencia County.

"There are numerous theories out there, some appear to be valid, some have less validity," said Covington, referring to the Calico case.

He said now it's up to his department to sift through the mounds of new information.

"It can be frustrating, but it's also what makes us better at our job, because we have to go the extra mile, turn over every stone," he said.

In the case of Perry, Covington said the cold case cards have been especially helpful.

Thanks to phone calls from prison, deputies are now tracking several people who could have valuable information.

That's cool. Seems like those playing card projects really do generate renewed interest and leads.

Has there ever been any consideration given to the prostitute picture of Amy Bradley actually being Tara Calico?

I realize it's a long shot, but makeup works wonders, and stranger things have occurred.

Has there ever been any consideration given to the prostitute picture of Amy Bradley actually being Tara Calico?

I realize it's a long shot, but makeup works wonders, and stranger things have occurred.

Highly doubtful. Tara Calico disappeared in 1988, which was around 15 years or so before that photo was taken.

The investigator working Tara's case has already publicly stated he knows what happened to her and who was responsible. According to him, the green truck that was right on her tail was driven by two boys she went to high school with. They were a couple years younger than her and wanted to approach her but they got too close and knocked her to the ground. When she hit the pavement, she was probably killed or at least critically injured. At whatever point she died, the boys panicked and it was their own parents who helped hide the evidence, burying both Tara and her bicycle. Marks on the side of the road show where her bike was dragged away.

It's yet another case of knowing who is responsible but the lack of evidence keeps the guilty parties free. The investigator tried to set up arrest warrants for both boys, who are now in their 40's, but it couldn't be processed without Tara's body or her bike.

That would make Tara 34 in the picture then. I think it's plausible. Again, it's a long shot.

I know the sheriff says he knows what happened, but I question how much he really knows. I'll believe his story when a body is discovered. I think this story he knows could be a great way of throwing law enforcement off the trail.

I don't know why I connected the picture and Tara, but I believe that both Tara and Amy are alive. I've been to desolate stretches of New Mexico, and it was creepy enough driving through there, only to stop in the middle of nothing at an Arby's. I always wondered where the customers that sustained the business came from. I've also been on a cruise ship, and like Amy, I didn't get near guardrail except on decks where I could fall over and land on the deck beneath me. This was really only the deck below the top deck and the top deck in certain parts. You couldn't have paid me to walk out to front of the ship and leaned over like some of the people on the ship were doing.

Strangely, we had a room on the back of ship, with a private deck. We were like dead center of the wake. I could sit on a chair back there and be ok, but I was always closer to the door than the guardrail. I always wondered what would happen if I did fall over, since it seemed like whatever was powering the ship was close by. Would the engine do anything to me, or would I be left just treading water as the boat motored on?