News

Calhoun Co. man sentenced to prison for 2 sexual assault cold cases
— Fox 17 online, May 20, 2023

“Our SAKI units throughout the state are uniquely qualified to close these long cold sexual assault cases and stop multiple offenders from making victims of more Michigan residents,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. “I’m thankful for the team in Calhoun County who worked toward these convictions and, as always, we hope this allows some closure for the survivors.” “The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative has been instrumental in bringing sex offenders to justice,” Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert added. “Advances in DNA technology and tenacious criminal investigations are pulling criminals out of the shadows.”

Kalamazoo SAKI Secures Convictions in 2010 Sexual Assaults
— Michigan.gov, May 15, 2023

Last week, the Kalamazoo County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) obtained 2 convictions against Jamaal Vincent, 39, of Kalamazoo, for the sexual assaults of two unrelated victims in 2010, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Madison man sentenced to 20 years in prison for 2017 sexual assault — his 57th criminal conviction
— Madison.com, May 12, 2023

"A Madison man was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison and 15 years of extended supervision for a 2017 sexual assault. The victim of the sexual assault was examined at a hospital. McDowell’s DNA was found on the victim, and matched DNA from another sexual assault kit tested as part of the Wisconsin Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), the Justice Department said. In court, the jury was presented with evidence from the initiative. “This sentence ensures that the defendant who committed this serious violent crime will be behind bars for a long time,” state Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a statement."

Man pleads guilty to three rapes over 12 years, is sentenced to 10 years in prison
— nola.com, May 10, 2023

David Releford pleaded guilty this week to three counts of simple rape. New Orleans police matched his DNA to sperm samples collected from three rapes spanning from 2006 to 2018 after the third survivor, a New Orleans resident, identified him as her attacker.

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Cold Case Unit have charged a suspect in a 28-year-old sexual assault cold case investigation.
— charlottenc.gov, May 9, 2023

"On June 17, 1994, at 1:30 a.m., a 39-year-old victim reported to CMPD that an unknown subject had broken into her residence and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint. A sexual assault kit was completed on the victim and analyzed. Additional testing of the evidence was conducted in 2018, and in 2019, the forensic samples from the scene were linked to another sex assault in Columbia, South Carolina that happened in 2010. In 2022, with the assistance of funding from the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), detectives utilized forensic genetic genealogy to identify a person of interest. A DNA sample was obtained from this subject, and it matched the DNA from both sexual assaults."

Minneapolis initiative to tackle untested rape kits brings first conviction
— Star Tribune, May 8, 2023

"For more than a decade, their rape kits sat untested on a shelf. But on Monday, two women who accused James Andrew Works, 49, of kidnapping and raping them for hours at gunpoint in 2010 said they no longer have to live in fear. Works was sentenced to 32½ years in prison after a Hennepin County jury found him guilty of all charges following a two-week trial. It's the first conviction resulting from a new initiative to tackle a backlog of untested sexual assault forensic exams in Minneapolis."

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has announced an arrest in the 2008 sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, thanks to DNA evidence from a previously untested sexual assault kit.
— 12News.com, May 8, 2023

"The sexual assault allegedly occurred at a party in the summer of 2008. The victim said two males lured her into a bedroom and assaulted her before a 17-year-old boy intervened and stopped the assault. MCSO said investigators collected evidence and interviewed witnesses before the case became inactive in 2009 after the victim chose not to participate in the investigation. The victim died in May 2015. In 2017, the agency received additional funds through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative to test evidence from the 2008 case. The national initiative allocated money for agencies to process evidence from untested rape kits. The testing done in 2017 identified the DNA profile of a male, which was entered into a law enforcement database. About a year later, Rzeczycki was allegedly matched to that DNA profile. "

KCPD working to reduce their backlog of sexual assault kits to help victims get justice quicker
— KCTV5, May 5, 2023

"KCPD posted on their Twitter page that their Crime Lab’s DNA section is drastically reducing the backlog of sample tests. Although DNA can be used in most all cases, it seems to be key for sexual assault cases. Just last year, Kansas City was considered to beone of the cities in Missouri with the highest rate of untested sexual assault kits. In August of 2022, the State Attorney General released the SAFE Kit Initiative report. According to that report, KCPD had a total of 222 kit samples, 32 of which were partially tested."

After nearly 10 years, Milford man charged in rape of Western Michigan student
— CBSNews.com, May 4, 2023

"A 29-year-old man has been charged in the rape of a freshman at Western Michigan University in 2013, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday. "The work of our department, in collaboration with the SAKI units in Kalamazoo and elsewhere, continues to show sexual assault survivors that justice is still a viable pursuit, even ten years on,"" said Nessel. ""Our hope and goal is that this pursuit leads to aid the healing process for victims. Investigations, charges, convictions; these are important elements of a broader process of securing justice and helping victims to recover."

"Washtenaw Sexual Assault Initiative brings charges against 2 men in 2013 Ypsilanti rape case "
— CBSNews.com, May 2, 2023

""This is the kind of case we are only able to bring charges for through the incredible dedication and vital work of our SAKI teams throughout the state,"" said Nessel. ""Ten years after this assault we are still able to bring charges, and I want other survivors out there to see that. That is possible because of the tremendous work and determination of teams like the Washtenaw SAKI team, whose efforts I am grateful for and applaud."" The Michigan Legislature funds the SAKI project, and it collaborates with the Michigan Attorney General's Office, the Michigan State Police, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office and SafeHouse Center. "