News

Sexual Assault Kit tracking now available in many parts of Florida
— Alachua Chronicle, Jan 18, 2023

"Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Mark Glass announced today that survivors of sexual violence now have a tool to follow the path of their sexual assault evidence collection kits (SAKs). Based on a law passed in 2021, the state implemented a web-based tracking system that allows survivors to monitor the location and processing of their barcoded sexual assault kits (SAK) and be notified if a DNA match to an alleged perpetrator occurs."

Bill Seeks to Expand Sexual Assault Response Resources
— Flathead Beacon, Jan 17, 2023

"The Montana House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 11 heard testimony on House Bill 79, a measure proposed by Rep. Amy Regier, R-Kalispell, which would bolster Montana’s sexual assault response network and would increase the availability of sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training throughout the state."

Elyria man pleads guilty in 1999 Cleveland rape case
— The Chronicle-Telegram, Jan 15, 2023

"An Elyria man has pleaded guilty in a Cuyahoga County courtroom to raping a woman in Cleveland in 1999, a case solved by DNA testing. It wasn't until 2013 after prosecutors assembled their Sexual Assault Kit Task Force that previously unsubmitted rape kits from 1993 to 2011, including that of the victim in the 1999 rape, were tested by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation."

BPD Sexual Assault Kit Initiative leads to the arrest of alleged rapist
— The Dorchester Post, Jan 14, 2023

"On January 9, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., Boston police officers arrested Demetrius Wilson, 57, on three outstanding warrants for charges including rape, assault and battery, intimidation of a witness, and unarmed robbery. The warrants were issued by Suffolk Superior Court, Dorchester District Court, and Middlesex Superior Court. The arrest was made possible through the use of a Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit (SAECK) in the investigation, and detectives are continuing their investigation which may result in further charges."

Report shows Alaska has almost eliminated its backlog of untested sexual assault evidence
— Frontiersman, Jan 12, 2023

"Alaska’s backlog of untested sexual assault examination kits has all but disappeared after a five-year, multimillion-dollar effort, according to a report that will be formally presented to the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday. The state also spent millions of dollars to reduce the backlog by consolidating the untested kits at the state’s crime lab and expanding the lab’s capacity. That effort worked, the new report says. In 2020, it took an average of 246 days for a kit to be tested. Now, the average delay is 70 days."

BPD Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Program Assists in Arrest of Demetrius Wilson
— bpdnews.com, Jan 10, 2023

"At about 6:00 PM on Monday, January 9, 2023, officers from Area A-1 arrested Demetrius Wilson, 57, of Boston, pursuant to three outstanding warrants. The warrants were issued out of the Suffolk Superior Court for two counts of Rape, one count of Assault and Battery, and one count of Intimidation of a Witness. The second warrant was issued out of Dorchester District Court for two counts of Rape. The third warrant was issued from Middlesex Superior Court for one count of Unarmed Robbery, one count of Assault and Battery, and one count of Assault and Battery on a +60/ Disabled person. A Sexual Assault investigation led to the utilization of a Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit (SAECK) which assisted detectives in identifying the suspect in connection to these separate incidents and could result in further charges as detectives continue their investigations."

Bill sets deadline on rape kits
— Wisconsin Spotlight, Jan 6, 2023

"A bill that would set a deadline for the State Crime Lab to process sexual assault kits aims to timely complete the critical chain of evidence. . “Victims deserve the swiftest possible course of action by the state. This legislation is the necessary, final step to ensuring the timely processing of sexual assault kits at every point in the process, from beginning to end.”

Attleboro man indicted for the 2001 rape of a 13-year-old girl in Fairhaven
— NBC 10 News, Dec 14, 2022

"An Attleboro man has been indicted for the 2001 rape of a 13-year-old girl in Fairhaven. He was connected to the rape by DNA found in a previously untested rape kit. A Bristol County Grand Jury indicted 37-year-old Patrick Avila on a charge of rape of a child with force. This is the latest charge brought on by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office’s Untested Rape Kit Initiative."

Durham police arrest man for sexual assaults allegedly committed in 1993
— WRAL News, Dec 14, 2022

"Durham investigators on Monday arrested a man accused of sexual assaults police say were committed in 1993. Dwight Martin, 64, of Durham, is charged with first-degree rape and first-degree sex offense. Police were able to link Martin to the two sexual assault incidents through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI). The police department’s Cold Case Unit received a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) hit that helped them link the two cases to Martin."

Fayetteville police arrest man in connection to string of sexual assaults in 2007
— CBS17, Dec 14, 2022

"The Fayetteville Police Department says a sexual assault cold case has been solved after 15 years. Sexual assault exams were done and while DNA was collected, technology at the time was limited so the case went unsolved. Those samples were recently submitted for testing using funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s FY2015 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grant. That testing identified McMillian as the suspect."