AUGUSTA - Maine Attorney General Janet T. Mills announced that a final hiring decision had been made to complete the staff of Maine's Unsolved Homicide Unit, naming Renee Ordway to serve as the victim advocate to work with family members in “cold” cases. This hire makes the unit fully staffed, the Mills’ office said in a news release.

"In her 30-year career in journalism, Renee has demonstrated an ability to give voice to victims in a manner that has earned her a reputation for fairness and compassion," said Mills in the release. "We are pleased to have the unit at full complement and working on these difficult cases. As we have said over the last several years as the Legislature considered creating this unit, we cannot guarantee convictions, but we can guarantee our undivided attention and our best efforts."

In June 2015, the Legislature recognized the need to devote additional, dedicated resources to the investigation of unsolved homicides. It created Maine's first unsolved homicide unit and funded positions for two State Police detectives and one forensic chemist to work exclusively on unsolved homicide cases, in coordination with a prosecutor in the Office of the Attorney General.

In late December, the State Police selected and assigned detectives Jay Pelletier and Bryant Jacques to the Unsolved Homicide Unit. They were joined by forensic chemist Alison Gingras of the State Crime Laboratory. Lara Nomani is the Attorney General's dedicated prosecutor within the Criminal Division to review these cases.

Lt. Jeffery Love, who oversees the State Police involvement of the unit, said Ordway's appointment rounds out a team of "committed and veteran professionals." The two detectives have 40 years of combined State Police service, coupled with Gingras' 17 years of experience at the State Police Crime Lab.

"There will not be instant results, but the team assembled have vast experience as they work with the Attorney General's Office to continue to investigate the state's unsolved homicides," Love said.

Ordway's first day at the Attorney General's Office will be in the in the coming weeks.

More on the Unsolved Homicide Unit can be found here.