'Hoy' Jumping On Cold-Case Crime Craze With Telemundo

By: Mark Fitzgerald Hoy, the Tribune Co.'s Spanish-language daily, is partnering with Telemundo network TV stations in Chicago and New York City on a regular feature that focuses on unsolved crimes.

"Crimenes Sin Resolver" was launched Monday in the Chicago edition. Every other Monday the newspaper will publish an article about an unsolved crime, and WSNS-TV will feature the same case on its 10 p.m. newscast that night.

WSNS News Director Esteban Creste originated the idea of partnering with the newspaper as an extension of the cold-case crime feature he started three years ago, when he was managing editor of Telemundo's New York City station, WNJU.

"In those three years, (authorities) caught seven homicide suspects" as a result of tips from viewers of "Crimenes Sin Resolver," Creste said.

As of Wednesday night, no tips had been sparked by the inaugural feature in Chicago. Written by Vicente Serrano, the Hoy article Ram?n Torres, a 41-year-old plumber shot to death on a Friday evening in February, 2001. Because it was a pay day, police think robbery may have been the motive, but the killers did not take any of the various jewelry pieces he was wearing.

Hoy's Chicago editor, Alejandro Escalona, said it's not surprising that the first feature hadn't yet generated any calls. "This is the kind of segment that might take some time to get readers to get involved," he said.

"The idea of this segment is to appeal to people's conscience, and they may not always react right away," Telemundo's Creste said.

Escalona has focused much of Hoy's Chicago content on reporting on bigger issues by telling human interest stories. "Crimenes Sin Resolver" fits that editorial model. "I thought it was an interesting concept that combines both an appealing story and service to the community," Escalona said.

In New York, the Hoy feature has so far focused more on crime protection tips, but Hoy's national editor, Javier J. Aldape, said that could change. "We're working closely with [Telemundo] to judge impact and assess how best to proceed," he said.