News

Man sentenced for 1993 crimes as OC works to clear backlog of untested sexual assault kits
— Alma Fausto, Orange County Registry, Apr 14, 2021

Arrest made in case from 1993 based on CODIS hit from testing previously unsubmitted SAKs.

Sterling man sentenced to 37 years in Alaska cold-case kidnapping and rape
— Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, Mar 25, 2021

A Sterling man was sentenced this week to 37 years in prison for kidnapping and raping a woman 20 years ago in a case that hinged on long-delayed testing of DNA evidence in a police sexual assault kit.

Man arrested 20 years after sexual assault enters blind plea
— Fox 10 News Staff, Mar 11, 2021

Man enters blind plea in sexual assault case from 1998. This case is part of the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) and is the second conviction in Mobile related to this program.

Tulsa police use DNA testing to arrest man accused in 2003 rape case
— Fox 23 News, Mar 11, 2021

DNA from a previously unsubmitted SAK and a subsequent CODIS hit leads to arrest in sexual assault case from 2003.

Fayetteville man arrested in 2009 cold case rape
— CBS 17 Digital Desk, Mar 8, 2021

DNA evidence from a previously untested SAK from 2009 led to arrest in sexual assault case.

Suspected Serial Rapist Pedro Samarrippas Arrested On U.S. Mexico Border, Detectives Seek Other Potential Victims
— CBS DFW, Mar 4, 2021

Detectives arrested alleged serial rapist in McAllen on two cold case sexual assault warrants based on DNA evidence.

Arrest made in 2004 sexual assault case thanks to grant given to Pima Co. Sheriff’s Dept.
— Karly Tinsley, KOLD 13, Feb 26, 2021

DNA evidence from previously untested SAKs leads to arrest in double sexual assault from 2004 in Pima County, Arizona. “It’s not a matter of it, it’s a matter of when. It’s a matter of time before that individual commits another crime and that their DNA profile is entered, and it matches one from our kits,” said Crehan.

DNA evidence helps Durham police charge man jailed in Texas with 2015 rape case
— CBS 17 Digital Desk, Feb 25, 2021

Durham (NC) police charged a man in connection with a 2015 rape thanks to CODIS hit.

Suspect indicted in 2019 murder of woman found dead in room at local hotel
— KWTX, Feb 24, 2021

Individual identified as a suspect in cold case homicide from 2019 through the state Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Program and advanced DNA analysis.

Kalamazoo program aims to restore faith in justice system for sexual assault survivors
— Hannah Knowles, WWMT West Michigan, Feb 22, 2021

“Hopefully projects like this will create a belief in the system that something will happen," Jeff Getting, the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor said. "Far too often victims have reason to question, 'Will someone believe me? Will there be an effort to prosecute a case?' or, 'Will I be made the victim again?'"