HARRISBURG, Pa. — Dozens of family photos fill the home of Harrisburg resident Tina Darden. Many of them are pictures of her kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, and more.
Next to all the smiles are signs saying "End Gun Violence" and "Justice for Tyshaun."
"He was a good man," she said. "He was the father of five. He was taking very good care of them."
Tina's son, Tyshaun Marquis Darden-White, was shot dead at 29 years old in January of 2022 on North 16th and Ethel Streets in Harrisburg.
Tina says it’s a weight no mother should have to bear.
"Even though we had our differences, no matter what, he would call me every morning and say 'Good morning, Queen. What are you doing today?'" Tina said. "I miss that a lot."
Patricia Reitzi’s grandson Daiquan was shot dead less than one month before Tyshaun, on December 26, 2021.
"I will continue to keep his name alive," Reitzi said, standing at Daiquan's grave.
His two young sons will now grow up without their father.
"How do you tell a little boy that never met his dad the good times? There's no more Christmases, there's no more birthdays, there's no football, there's no baseball," Reitzi said. "There's no Valentine's Day, there's no first day of school. They took that away from these little boys. That's not fair to them. It wasn't fair to him."
A total of 33 homicides remain unsolved in Harrisburg from 2019 through 2023, Tyshaun and Daiquan among them.
It’s ongoing work for Lt. Kyle Gautsch and the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.
"There's no calendar for us, we keep on working these cases, no matter how long it takes," Lt. Gautsch said. "The fact is that some cases are much easier for us to solve and to bring some sense, even a small sense of closure to those families."
Investigations go beyond the scene of the crimes and often beyond the detectives on the cases.
"A lot of resources go into it. It's not just the detectives," Lt. Gautsch said. "It all starts in the patrol aspect, and incorporates the entire Bureau."
Harrisburg Police are also working alongside District Attorney Fran Chardo, who says often it's just one lost link before law enforcement can find an answer.
"Sometimes it's going to be eyewitness testimony, others it's going to be scientific evidence," Chardo said. "It's going to vary from case to case."
Homicides older than five years and considered open are given to the cold case squad.
"These are special county detectives. They work hand in hand with the detective from the department," Chardo said. "We're not taking over anyone's case, we're just helping and sharing ideas."
He also says many investigations stall when people who know something keep quiet, throwing another wrench in their work.
"A lot of people just aren't talking. That's the problem," Chardo said. "I mean, it's a culture of silence that is the problem."
Reitzi calls it 'silence on the streets.'
"If it was your loved one you would want anybody possible, who saw something, who heard something, speak up," she said.
In Harrisburg, detectives do solve a majority of homicides. At the start of this year, Harrisburg’s clearance rate for homicides from 2019 through 2023 was 62%, higher than the national average of 55%. In 2022, the department set a record high for homicides cleared at 78%.
"We do keep striving to make sure that we eventually reach out," Lt. Gautsch said. "We call those families and say, 'Finally, we are holding someone accountable for the loss of your loved one.'"
For two years, however, Tyshaun’s family has been the one dialing, disappointed by the disconnect with investigators. Tina says it's been months since she received any update after she reached out.
"At least have someone reach out just checking in on the families," Tyshaun's niece Bre’ale Martin-Darden said. "Even if you don't have anything going on, just a 'We care about you, we hear you, we see you. We want to help you, we want to take care of you.'"
Patricia says families can feel forgotten by the silence and want to get more frequent updates and calls from detectives.
"I would rather you pick up the phone and call me and say 'Hey, you know, this is a lead we got we're going to check it out. We'll get back to you and let you know,'" Reitzi said. "These mothers aren't getting any of that.”
Until then, the cases remain open, and the work towards closure continues.
"I wish, I pray that one day soon that they, they call me and say 'Miss Darden, we have good news,'" Tina said.