Posted Friday, December 25, 2009 --- 10:00 p.m.

Throughout the past year, NBC 15 News has explored "cold cases" in hopes of generating fresh tips to help solve these murders.

Now, a look at why it's never too late for justice.

His arrest would grab headlines around the country.

NBC 15 broke the news in late July -- Edward Wayne Edwards, of Kentucky, under arrest for the 1980 murders of Kelly Drew and Tim Hack, two Jefferson County sweethearts. NBC 15 profiled the unsolved case in March of 2009.

By August, a 76-year-old suspect was en route to Wisconsin, arriving in Watertown to face two counts of first degree murder.

"I'm very relieved an arrest has been made... and awfully happy to find out it's not anybody local," Dave Hack said at the time.

The former handyman at the dance hall where the pair disappeared almost 30 years ago has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for March.

The 1987 disappearance and murder of popular New Lisbon teacher Barb Blackstone is still a mystery. NBC 15 also re-visited this case in March of this year.

"About a month after Barb vanished... a hunter found her body 80 miles away in a wooded area of Lafayette County... "

Word of the upcoming broadcast prompted a former high school student of Blackstone's to offer a 25-thousand dollar reward.

And, by the next month, the case was back in the news.

"An individual, local resident... who was a prior student of Barbara Blackstone came forward... "

The initial story and Marc Andreessen's generosity inspired another to add 5-thousand dollars to the reward fund. But, at year's end, the case remains much like it has since '87 - wide open.

"You are certainly one of the most dangerous individuals to come into this room."

In October, a Grant County judge sentenced a Wisconsin inmate for a murder dating back to 1980.

"... I think we're in the area of 20 cold cases that we've got either to the charge stage or conviction stage," Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said in October.

The murder of Thomasina Dunivant 29 years ago this December is one of them.

The case of the single mother, whose body was found along a rural highway, also was featured by NBC 15.

Then, highlighted again, when the suspect -- 54-year-old inmate Gregory Otterbeck -- pleaded no contest.

"One day I'm gonna come to see you, yeah, I'm gonna visit so you can tell me why... other peace of mind I'm looking for," Margaret Dunivant, the victim's daughter, said in court in October.

"It doesn't matter how much you might've thought you got away with something, we will find you. We will come for you. We will see you are held accountable," Assistant Attorney General David Wambach said in October.

In 2003, investigators received a tip about the Dunivant case... then began digging into the old files.

Prosecutors say it's never too late for justice.

"Call us, tell us .. and you could be the one who makes the difference to a family and a community to getting a case solved," Wambach said.

You can read more about these cases and about a dozen cases featured by NBC15 this past year. Click on News Links here at NBC15.com