News

Alaska to Increase DNA Collecting Efforts to help Law Enforcement
— KINY News Staff, Aug 12, 2021

The Governor of Alaska directed the State Public Safety and Corrections Departments to immediately collect 100% of the DNA owed in all authorized cases going forward and to collect DNA from another 20,022 offenders who owe the state a sample of their DNA under state law.

Alabama man convicted in 1998 Memphis rape case; rape kit wasn't tested until 2017
— Shelby County District Attorney General News Release, Jul 29, 2021

An Alabama man whose DNA linked him to the 1998 rape of a Parkway Village woman was convicted Wednesday by a Criminal Court jury, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

WVTM 13 Investigates: Jefferson County rape kit backlog update
— WVTM 13 Digital Staff, Jul 26, 2021

The Jefferson County, AL site offered up some updates to their SAK inventory. The number of hits in the national DNA database has doubled. The SAKI program has produced criminal charges against 10 suspects so far.

I-Team: Police solve 1989 cold case murder of 14-year-old Las Vegas girl
— 8 News, Jul 22, 2021

Forensic Genetic Genealogy used to solve 32 year old homicide of teenage girl.

Man arrested 20 years after rape, kidnapping sentenced to life in prison
— Fox 10 Staff, Jul 21, 2021

Williams was arrested 20 years after the crime after DNA found on the victim was linked to him. Investigators said the victim's sexual assault kit was never processed until the department received a grant in 2015.

DNA genealogy testing leads to break in decades-old cold case rape in Cleveland
— Sara Goldenberg , 19 News, Jul 12, 2021

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office GOLD unit just announced a 1999 cold case rape in Cleveland has been solved, thanks to an identification of the suspect made through FGG.

IJR-SAKI Team shares progress with rape cold cases linked to previously untested rape kits
— Erica Murphy, Fox 47 News, Jul 10, 2021

"When we did an inventory in Ingham County, we learned we had 123 untested sexual assault evidence kits. And thanks to funds from MSP and the AG we were able to have every single one of those kits tested," said Harrison. "So far, there have been charges brought against two suspected offenders in mid-Michigan."

Funding gives help for victims of sexual assault
— Tom Latek, Kentucky Today, Jul 7, 2021

Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Mary Noble announced a $1.5 million grant from the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, or SAKI, for a new program to be operated at the KSP.

Tracking System Launched for Sex Assault Evidence Collection Kits
— Big Island Now, Jul 3, 2021

Hawai‘i’s Officer of the Attorney General and Hawai‘i Sexual Assault Response and Training (HSART) Program’s Multi-Disciplinary Team announced the launch of the sexual assault evidence collection kit tracking system on the HSART website.

Memphis man arrested in 2004 rape
— WREG Staff, Jul 2, 2021

DNA evidence leads to arrest in rape case from 2004 in Memphis, TN.