News

Akron police receive more funding to investigate sexual assault cold cases using genealogy testing
— Kaylyn Hlavaty, News 5 Cleveland, Dec 8, 2020

The Akron Police Department’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Unit will use newly-granted funds from the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative to conduct genetic genealogy testing on sexual assault cold cases, if approved by city council.

Over two dozen rape suspects have been identified from state project analyzing untested rape kits
— Gretchen Bolander, KSN, Dec 2, 2020

The Missouri Attorney General highlighted 24 DNA hits as part of the state project to follow through on previously untested rape kits.

Reno Police arrest sexual assault suspect from 1998 cold case
— News 4 Staff, News 4, Nov 29, 2020

DNA from a retro-active collection from suspect on an unrelated case, lead to his arrest in two sexual assault cases in 1998.

Man charged for kidnapping, and sexual assault in 2002 cold case
— 13 On Your Side Staff, 13 On Your Side, Nov 20, 2020

Wyoming Police say they've arrested the person who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 4-year-old girl more than 18 years ago thanks to DNA being collected for an unrelated offense in Michigan.

Fayetteville man charged in 2011 sexual assault case
— Melody Brown-Peyton, The Fayetteville Observer, Nov 18, 2020

DNA from previoulsy unsubmitted SAK leads to arrest in sexual assault from 2011.

Fayetteville police use DNA to make arrest in 28-year-old rape case
— Gilbert Baez, WRAL, Nov 16, 2020

Lawfully owed DNA leads to arrest in rape case from 1992 in Fayetteville, NC

DPS Receives Grant to Acquire Sex Assault Kit Tracking Software
— Alaska DPS Press Release, Nov 14, 2020

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) was awarded the SAFE-ITR this month from BJA to begin the process of implementing a program to track SAK testing. The grant provides $998,791 to the state over the next three years and will go toward the cost of software as well as two positions to manage the tracking program.

Texas DPS: DNA collection law helped solve hundreds of crimes in its first year
— Billy Gates, KXAN, Nov 13, 2020

The Krystal Jean Baker Act, which allows the collection of DNA samples from those charged with any of 24 different felonies and compares them with existing crime scene DNA samples in a nationwide database, has helped Texas DPS solve more than 250 open investigations in its first year, the agency says.

Sterling man convicted for 2001 kidnapping, sexual assault
— Brian Mazurek, Peninsula Clarion, Nov 6, 2020

DNA from a previously unsubmitted SAK leads to conviction in case from 2001. “We owe it to every survivor to never give up, and make sure every possible piece of evidence or lead is tracked down,” Alaska’s Department of Public Safety Commissioner Amanda Price said in the press release.Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore also praised the survivor’s perseverance after not seeing justice for nearly 20 years. “She survived the sexual assault, she survived the two decades wait for the big break in the case, then survived the rigors of being cross examined as victim in a sexual assault case — something none of us would ever want to experience."

KARE 11 Investigates: Rape kit reforms pass, signed into law
— Brandon Stahl, KARE 11, Nov 5, 2020

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed new law mandating all reported sexual assault kits must be tested and that all non reported sexual assault kits must be kept for 30 months. The bill also mandates a tracking system for SAKs to be created.