OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma is getting a new cold case unit.

The State Bureau of Investigation says the unit will be funded with an 18-month grant from the National Institute of Justice worth about $500,000. Agent in Charge Gary Perkinson says two new people will be hired as investigators go through about 400 cold case files dating to the early 1970s.

Perkinson says the initial focus of the unit will be on determining which of those cold cases has DNA evidence for a suspect profile, which is a requirement of the federal grant.

After the grant expires, Perkinson says the OSBI hopes to have it renewed or to receive state money to continue the cold case unit's work.