News

Nevada’s backlog of untested sexual assault kits cleared
— Audrey Owsley, KOLO News 8, Dec 31, 2020

Nevada AG Aaron Ford announced Thursday that testing for all previously backlogged sexual assault kits from prior to 2016 is now complete.

Grant for sexual assault investigations in Pima County gives promising results
— https://www.kold.com/2020/12/19/grant-sexual-assault-investigations-pima-county-gives-promising-results/, Dec 19, 2020

In 2019, PCSD had an inventory of more than 350 boxes containing untested evidence from sexual assault cases- some even dating back to the 80s. Now, through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), detectives have been able to find DNA on more than 200 box-kits. And out of those, 101 have yielded hits on an individual, either by name or crime.

Man pleads guilty to multiple charges in Fayetteville cold case rape investigations
— CBS 17 Digital Desk, Dec 19, 2020

Authorities say a man plead guilty to First Degree Rape, First Degree Kidnapping and First Degree Sex Offence, will face up to 50 years in prison in connection to two cold case rape investigations from the 1990’s. This investigation was a result of a DNA hit from a previously unsubmitted SAK.

Martinsburg man charged in 22-year-old sexual assault case
— Matthew Umstead, Herald Mail Media, Dec 17, 2020

A 58-year-old Martinsburg man has been charged with the September 1998 sexual assault of a Berkeley County female after authorities found that a DNA specimen obtained 22 years ago matched state DNA database information for a convicted offender.

Omaha Police are working through 1,700 untested rape kits in effort to solve cold cases
— Tara Campbell, 6 News, Dec 11, 2020

The Omaha Police Department has sent roughly a third of its untested rape kits to the lab. So far, 535 kits have been tested, they have received the results of about 300 tests, and of those about 176 have usable DNA. They have identified 46 offenders thus far.

Attorney General Josh Stein Provides Update on Sexual Assault Kit Testing
— North Carolina Department of Justice, Dec 10, 2020

“Continuing to test these kits is critical to promoting public safety in North Carolina,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “Thanks to tested kits, law enforcement has made arrests in recent weeks solving violent crimes in Fayetteville, Wilmington, Durham, and other communities across the state. The state has tested 2,169 previously untested SAKS. 764 cases have been entered into the state and national DNA databases. Forty percent of those cases had a hit to a known person in the database or to another case, allowing law enforcement to move the case forward.

Man arraigned in 2012 alleged rape in Marshall
— Trace Christenson, Battle Creek Enquirer, Dec 9, 2020

Man charged with five counts of sexual assault stemming from a 2012 case.

Testing, preservation of rape kits now law
— Jeffrey Hage, Monticello Times, Dec 9, 2020

This law sets in writing that all rape kits from cases reported to police must be tested and permanently preserved. In cases not reported to police, rape kits must be preserved for 30 months so evidence exists if a sexual assault victim choses to pursue charges at a later date.

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.