Sherry Black Foundation

10/16/2026

No investigator should have to do this work alone.

Behind every investigation is a chain of people, resources, and support. Investigators need the right tools, funding, policies, resources, and—perhaps most importantly—a community that believes in the work they are doing.

We know firsthand how barriers can slow investigations and leave families waiting for answers. We exist to help strengthen that chain by supporting the people and resources working to move investigations forward.

Thats where YOU come in.

We're inviting our community to come together and support the mission Sherry inspired. Every contribution helps us continue building connections, providing resources, and supporting efforts that can make a meaningful difference in investigations and the families that they impact.

Together, we can strengthen the chain, remove barriers, and help ensure investigators have the support they need to keep moving cases forward. Whether you donate, share our mission, connect us with others, or simply help spread the word about our foundation, you are part of the chain.
Donate today through this link:

By The Sherry Black Foundation

10/14/2026

Today, we celebrate Sherry Black.

On October 14, 1946, Sherry was born. Today, we remember the life she lived, the people she loved, and the countless moments that made her uniquely Sherry.

Sherry’s life was tragically taken, but her story did not end there. Her memory became the foundation for a mission dedicated to helping other families facing the unimaginable uncertainty of an unsolved violent crime.

This year, Sherry would have turned 80 years old.

To honor her 80th birthday, we’re asking our community to consider making an $80 donation to the Sherry Black Foundation.

Your gift helps us continue providing investigators with training, expertise, case consultation, and resources to help remove barriers and pursue every viable lead.

And there’s another meaningful way you can celebrate Sherry: share her story. Send this post to a friend or family member. Invite them to learn about Sherry, discover the work of the Foundation, and become part of a community committed to seeking answers and supporting families.

80 years. One life. A lasting legacy.

By The Sherry Black Foundation

10/08/2026

In 1990, the FBI launched CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), creating a national DNA database that transformed criminal investigations. For years, DNA could only help when a suspect was already in the system.

By 2011, investigators began exploring Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG)—leveraging public genealogy databases to identify unknown suspects through distant relatives when CODIS had no answers.

In 2018, IGG changed everything with the arrest of the Golden State Killer, proving that science and genealogy together could solve even the most complex, decades-old homicide cases.

Today, IGG has helped solve over 1,000 cases, bringing names back to victims and answers to families. We provide training on how to responsibly and effectively use IGG, empowering investigators with this revolutionary tool. Our mission is to advocate for victims, support law enforcement, and help bring justice to cold cases—because IGG isn’t just technology, it’s a path to truth.

10/05/2026

Stay connected to the latest resources, opportunities, and insights from the Sherry Black Foundation. Our monthly newsletter is designed to keep investigators and forensic professionals informed with practical insights, upcoming events, resources, training opportunities, and more, delivered straight to your inbox.

Newsletters are released the first Wednesday of every month, so you still have time to subscribe and receive October's Newsletter!

Subscribe for free and stay in the know!

Sherry Black Foundation Email Forms

10/01/2026

SBF wrapped up a busy and meaningful month in Washington, D.C., connecting with the NCJA Coalition of DNA Advocates.

It was an incredible opportunity to reconnect with advocates, share perspectives, and learn more about the impact and progress taking place across the forensic DNA community. Conversations like these remind us how much can be accomplished when passionate people come together with a shared commitment to advancing the work.

We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated, knowledgeable, and passionate individuals. Thank you to everyone who continues to push this important work forward—we’re honored to be part of the conversation.

09/27/2026

The Sherry Black Foundation extends our sincere gratitude to everyone who came together for the Utah Missing & Unsolved Day we shared. Together, we're solving the unsolved.

We are grateful for the advocacy agencies, foundations, investigative departments, community members, volunteers, and especially the families who joined us today. Seeing so many people come together for the missing and unsolved is a powerful reminder of how much these cases matter and that the people at the center of them will never be forgotten. We understand that families don't stop waiting when cases go cold, and we remain committed to standing beside them throughout that journey.

At the Sherry Black Foundation, we believe every case deserves every resource available. Our role is to support the professionals doing this important work by connecting them with knowledge, training, expertise, partnerships, and resources that can help move cases forward.

To every person who participated in Utah Missing & Unsolved Day, thank you for showing up. Your presence sends an important message: these cases still matter, these families still matter, and our communities have not forgotten.

Justice doesn't happen by accident, it happens when we all come together.

With deepest gratitude,
The Sherry Black Foundation

09/25/2026

Today, on the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Homicide, we pause to honor the lives of those who were taken too soon and the families who continue to carry their memory.

If you know someone who has been lost to homicide, we encourage you to do something today in their honor. Plant a flower. Write down a favorite memory. Visit a place that reminds you of them. Create a memory jar or book. Say their name. Whatever feels meaningful, take a moment to celebrate the life they lived.

If you believe in this work, follow the Sherry Black Foundation, share our mission, and tell someone you know about the work we do. The more people who understand these cases and the families behind them, the more we can do together.

Tomorrow, we’ll be holding a Missing & Unsolved Day dedicated to raising awareness, connecting families with resources, and bringing attention to cases that still need answers. Our hope is that through greater awareness and connection, we can help move these cases forward.

Today, we remember. Tomorrow, we keep searching.

09/21/2026

Calling All Families.
We’ve brought together a powerful group of partners and valuable resources for Missing & Unsolved Day—all with one goal: to make a difference in as many cases as possible.
We know how hard it is to keep fighting for your loved one’s case. The calls, the questions, the waiting, and the feeling that you have to keep pushing just to be heard.
This event is for you.
Our hope is that, for one day, you won’t have to fight alone. We’ve gathered professionals and resources who can help you take the next steps, revisit your case, and explore opportunities that may help move it forward.
But we need you to show up.
Bring your loved one’s case. Bring the information you have. Bring your questions. Bring your hope.
Let’s come together and do everything we can to make a difference.
Missing & Unsolved Day
September 26th, 10:00-2:00
SLCC Miller Campus 9750 South 300 West, Sandy, UT, 84070
If you know a family who needs this, please share this with them.

09/17/2026

Behind every number is a family still waiting for answers.

In Utah alone, there are more than 250 unsolved homicide cases and more than 130 missing person cases.

That means hundreds of families are living with unanswered questions, uncertainty, and a kind of grief that doesn’t have a clear ending.

This is ambiguous grief—the pain of grieving when there is no resolution, no certainty, and often no opportunity to say goodbye. It can be incredibly isolating, and the passage of time doesn’t make that uncertainty disappear.

At the Sherry Black Foundation, we believe these families deserve to be seen, heard, and supported.

That’s why we’re bringing together resources and professionals for Utah Missing & Unsolved Day on September 26th —an event created specifically for families whose loved one’s case is missing, unsolved, or stalled.

We can’t promise answers, but we can promise that you don’t have to stop asking the questions, and you shouldn’t have to fight for your loved one’s case alone.

If you or someone you know is living with an unresolved case, look into Utah Missing & Unsolved Day on our website to find out how to participate.

These aren’t just cases, they are loved ones, and their families are still here, still waiting, and still fighting.

09/14/2026

When someone is living with ambiguous grief, sometimes the most meaningful thing we can offer is simply to stay beside them.

Living with uncertainty, waiting for answers, and not knowing what happened to someone you love is unimaginable.

Your support doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be there. Show up. Listen. Remember. Say their loved one’s name. Give them space to talk about who they were, not only what happened to them. Remind them that their loved one is more than the circumstances surrounding their loss, and that their memory matters.

Supporting someone through ambiguous grief isn’t about finding the perfect words or trying to fix what cannot be changed. It’s about being present and reminding them that they are not alone.

There are many ways to stand beside these families. Share their stories. Learn about their loved ones. Support organizations doing this work. Connect families with resources that can help them navigate the difficult road ahead. And when you can, share the mission of the Sherry Black Foundation so more people understand why this work matters.

The Sherry Black Foundation was built from a firsthand understanding of the road of ambiguous grief. Our goal is to support investigators and the work they do so more families have the opportunity to find answers and pursue justice.