News

Quin'darrius Carter pleaded guilty to five counts of rape in a Jefferson County courtroom.
— https://www.wvtm13.com/article/jefferson-county-investigators-serial-rapist-backlog-sexual-assault-kit/42271308, Dec 14, 2022

"Carter's victims were part of a massive sexual assault kit backlog. In 2016, prosecutors found about 4,000 rape kits had gone untested in Jefferson County for decades. Since then, a special team with the national Sexual Assault Kit Initiative has worked to eliminate half of the backlog."

New Hanover County judge sentences man to over 48 years for 1996 rape and kidnapping case
— WECT, Dec 12, 2022

"A jury in New Hanover County has convicted Timothy Craig Iannone of first-degree rape and first-degree kidnapping for a case dating back to 1996. Without the efforts of the State of North Carolina and Attorney General Josh Stein to provide millions of dollars to test rape test kits that had remained on shelves for decades this case might never have been solved."

Missouri Attorney General’s office secures conviction through SAFE Kit Initiative, 10 other cases headed to trial
— KTTN, Dec 9, 2022

"Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his Office had recently helped to secure a conviction because of the work his Office has done with the SAFE Kit Initiative. There are 10 other cases that are currently heading to trial because of DNA evidence obtained through the shipping and testing of untested sexual assault kits through the Missouri Attorney General’s SAFE Kit Initiative."

‘Across the finish line’: How Missouri plans to clear its sexual assault kit backlog by 2025
— News Tribune, Dec 6, 2022

"Missouri will receive a third federal grant that will help the state finish clearing the state's backlog of untested sexual assault kits, Chris Nuelle, spokesman for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, said Wednesday. The statewide effort to identify and process these kits has tested 5,246 so far, which makes up 85 percent of the backlog, according to data from the SAFE (sexual assault forensic evidence) kits initiative. In the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault, a victim often undergoes a forensic examination to collect evidence of the assault. A SAFE kit is the standardized kit used to collect the evidence."

Marysville cold case solved with assistance from Attorney General’s DNA forensic genetic genealogy program
— Washington State Office of the Attorney General, Dec 5, 2022

"Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that his office’s DNA forensic genetic genealogy program has now helped solve a 24-year-old cold case from Marysville. The program is part of the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI)."

‘11,000 to Zero’ campaign seeks those affected by Detroit’s rape kit backlog
— WDET.org, Dec 1, 2022

"The Wayne County Prosecutor’s office has launched the “11,000 to Zero” campaign as part of its rape kits backlog review. In 2009, an Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor discovered a warehouse containing 11,341 rape kits, dating back to 1984, that had never been tested. Last month, the prosecutor’s office announced that all of those kits have now been tested."

Connecticut Secures Funding for Timely Processing of Sexual Assault Evidence Kits
— NBC Connecticut, Dec 1, 2022

"The lab got its first Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grant, or SAKI grant, in 2015. That is when state lawmakers passed Public Act 15-207, requiring quick turnaround of sexual assault evidence collection kits. “We immediately went into the backlog and got rid of it,” Carreiro said. With the latest $1.2 million in federal funding, the lab will bolster personnel, buy supplies and equipment, and lead more trainings."

Former Fabius Township Supervisor Heads to Trial on Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Case
— Michigan.gov, Nov 30, 2022

"The former Fabius Township Supervisor accused of sexual assault has been bound over to circuit court on multiple felony criminal sexual conduct charges, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting announced today. Kenneth Dwayne Linn, 57, of Three Rivers, is charged with four counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct, which is punishable by up to life in prison. Judge Tiffany Ankley of the 8th District Court heard more than five hours of testimony from multiple people including the victim and a witness who was with the victim prior to the sexual assault."

Omaha Police report 45% decrease in number of untested sexual assault kits compared to 2021
— KETV 7, Nov 29, 2022

"In a letter to Nebraska lawmakers, Omaha's Police Chief Todd Schmaderer reports a 45% drop in the number of untested sexual assault kits compared to last year. The chief says he hopes to see that number continue to drop as advocates applaud the progress. Investigators say they have made progress in testing sexual assault kits. "We had so many untested kits, and we didn't want that," said Chief Schmaderer."

State working to process backlog of untested rape kits
— wavy.com, Nov 23, 2022

"Nearly four years after the backlog of sexual assault kits were discovered in North Carolina, the attorney general says progress is being made in testing them. Approximately 16,000 kits were discovered at the time. Now in 2022, efforts have been made to tackle the issue. Since 2019, 12,000 of the kits have been tested."