Foundered, as an investigation

WENTCOLD

Think of how a trail might disappear when progress stops and interest fades away.

"Foundered" hints at something failing or collapsing, which fits "WENT COLD" as an idiom for an investigation that stalls or loses momentum. The phrase plays on the literal meaning of "cold" (lacking heat) while also describing a case that’s gone inactive or unsolved. It’s a common expression in crime dramas or legal contexts, where a stalled investigation is said to have "gone cold." The answer ties the idea of failure ("foundered") directly to the outcome of the investigation.