WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – For families of the murdered and missing, the pain doesn’t end with the crime itself. Equally difficult to live with is the lingering fear that their loved one’s case will be forgotten – and the worry that truth and justice may never come. When investigations stall and cases grow cold, many families discover that if they want answers, attention, or progress, they have to fight to generate it themselves.
Michigan News Source recently spoke with Nina Innsted about what families are doing – and what they can do – to keep their loved ones’ cases in the spotlight.
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Innsted is the podcast host of “Already Gone,” a true crime podcast focused on lesser-known crimes in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. She is also the president of Missing in Michigan, a nonprofit group dedicated to helping families of missing persons in the state of Michigan, and the author of a new book, Unsolved Michigan, which examines mysterious and unsolved cases from Michigan.
Innsted told us that families can’t afford to fade into the background. “One of the things they can do is hold a vigil,” she explained, adding, “They could do it on a birthday…or on the date that they were lost.” Vigils draw media, bring community members together, and remind law enforcement that the case still matters. And that’s just the beginning of the advocacy that the families of cold case victims can initiate or participate in.
Social media never sleeps.
According to Innsted, social media is one of the most powerful tools families have – and it’s free. She pointed out that a dedicated Facebook page to a loved one’s case keeps the story alive, gives journalists easy access to updates, and signals to the community that the search for justice continues. “Any exposure is good exposure,” she said.
Innsted also suggested that families partner with Crime Stoppers, raise reward money, and work to keep anonymous tip lines active. She also mentioned “AdvocacyCon,” a yearly crime conference that brings together experts, non-profit organizations, families of the missing and murdered, and individuals passionate about advocating for justice. Its mission is to create a platform for education, connection, and collaboration in the fight for justice.
“There are always resources available to get the story out there,” Innsted said. But resources require time and energy – and money as well. Over the years, grieving families are forced to spend all three year after year as they seek to find justice for their loved ones.
Michigan murder sparks family to speak out.
In many cases, the search for answers and accountability pushes family members into the spotlight whether they want to be there or not – and they often become the loudest advocates for justice. One such figure is Ron GarDella, the youngest son of Belinda GarDella, who was stabbed and murdered in 1983. We covered this case in January, and noted that both the detectives who worked the investigation and family members believe that Paul GarDella – Belinda’s ex-husband and the children’s father – is responsible for her death.
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The case was featured on Oxygen’s true crime show Cold Justice in November 2025, but despite what looks like a significant amount of circumstantial evidence, prosecutors in Wayne County (and Oakland as well) have declined to file charges. The Wayne County prosecutors office released a statement saying, “The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has thoroughly reviewed a warrant request for a suspect (not named) that was submitted in 2025, for the 1983 homicide of Belinda GarDella. It has been determined that there is insufficient evidence to charge a criminal case. Simply put, there is not enough admissible evidence available to prosecute this case. We certainly understand that this is not the news the family and friends of Mrs. GarDella were hoping for.”
Fighting for mom.
Because of inaction in the case, Ron GarDella took it upon himself over the past several years to push for answers in the decades-old murder of his mother, Belinda GarDella. After retiring, he decided he could no longer wait for others to act and began leading the effort himself, reaching out to his siblings and asking them to join him in seeking justice. The renewed push helped bring the family together after years of division and sparked a coordinated effort to revisit the case and demand more attention from investigators and prosecutors.
Tireless work and personal funds spent in push for justice.
Ron began filing numerous Freedom of Information Act requests, dug through police records, and gathered documents that he believed should have already been examined. He also hired a private investigator to review evidence, speak with detectives, and pursue leads that had gone cold.
The work has required countless hours, personal money spent, and repeated trips to Michigan, but Ron says the effort comes from frustration with what he sees as years of inaction. Beyond the investigative work, Ron and his family have tried to keep public attention on the case. They have spoken with reporters, participated in television and podcast interviews, and helped create a social media page dedicated to seeking justice for their mother. By continuing to speak publicly and share new information when possible, Ron hopes the case will remain visible long enough for investigators – or a prosecutor – to finally bring answers to a crime that has remained unresolved for nearly five decades.
For families like the GarDellas and countless others across Michigan and the rest of the country, the passage of time doesn’t lessen the need for answers. Instead, it often strengthens their resolve to keep asking questions, raising awareness, and reminding the public that behind every cold case there is a life that mattered and a family that is still waiting for justice.
