SPRRINGFIELD (AP) – Springfield police say it’s unusual that they have so many unsolved murder cases, but insist they are making progress on a majority of them.

While law enforcement has solved 25 homicides in the past two years, eight others remain open.

The Springfield News-Leader reports police – who are reluctant to discuss details of the unsolved cases or whether any are related – say witnesses in homicides involving people in the drug trade or violent crime often are afraid to cooperate for fear of retribution.

Police Capt. David Millsap says sometimes a victim’s lifestyle choices help investigators quickly identify on a potential suspect, while at other times those choices can point to multiple suspects or none at all.