Episode Details

May 15, 1981. East Chicago, Indiana. Jay Given, a 51-year old attorney and political operative, attends a political fundraiser at the local Elks Club, but is fatally shot through the back of the head while exiting through the building’s front doors. While a shell casing and a slug are collected from the crime scene and placed in an evidence drawer at the police station, it is later discovered that the items have been tampered with. The investigation turns towards the town’s deputy police chief, John Cardona, who attended the fundraiser, owned a similar firearm to the murder weapon, and had a motive to kill Jay. While a grand jury investigation takes place, the authorities ultimately believe that the evidence against Cardona is not strong enough to file charges. Was John Cardona actually responsible for the murder of Jay Given? Was a cover-up orchestrated to ensure the perpetrator would never be prosecuted? On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore an unsolved case from a town where corruption and political maneuvering were rampant.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the East Chicago Police Department at (219) 391-8400.

Additional Reading:

https://unsolved.com/gallery/jay-given/

https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Jay_Given

https://www.newspapers.com/image/308658111/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/106140600/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/309766663/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/388778975/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/311086169/.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/309837677/

https://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/son-dreams-of-avenging-murder/article_8928eaea-91b2-5ade-bd43-a8a85b152080.html

https://www.newspapers.com/image/305742484/

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/article_3b61f9a5-12d7-5160-a7f5-b9f32d78f6b6.html

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/shot-in-the-back-of-the-head-years-later-given/article_69d3e520-1bec-5c0c-a153-be79ea15817c.html

https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/nwitimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/11/211d7431-998d-5eb0-9a93-3530e69fd973/5d10f295695ee.pdf.pdf

This episode of “The Trail Went Cold” is brought to you by HelloFresh. Go to HelloFresh.com/wentcold16 and use code “wentcold16” for 16 free meals plus free shipping.

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“The Trail Went Cold” is doing a weekly livestream show on Vokl every Thursday from 7:00-8:00 PM ET as part of their “True  Crime Thursday” line-up. For more information, ple