Law enforcement are capable, and expected, to hold on to allevidence related to a crime until the case is officiallyfinalized.Generally, this means that law enforcement will hold on to theevidence until all appeals have been used, or the convicted persondies. In murder cases, more often than not, by the time theevidence can be returned to the owner, the owner has already died(from old age). Often, the property that can be returned willeither be returned to the next-of-kin. If a next-of-kin, orlegitimate owner, cannot be identified, the department may sell ordestroy the property.