News

Lubbock Police solves decades old homicide through DNA testing
— KCBD Staff, May 1, 2024

"The Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit, with the help of multiple law enforcement agencies and DNA testing, has solved the 48-year-old murder of Elizabeth Ann Price. In August 2022, with the funding from the SAKI grant, the DNA was submitted to Bode Technology Group in Lorton, Virginia for genealogical testing. With their advanced technology, Bode was able to isolate the DNA to one family tree. One of the individuals in that family tree was deceased and their DNA was available for comparison. The suspect’s DNA was submitted to the Lubbock DPS Lab and on January 18, 2023 it was determined who was responsible for the vicious and heinous murder of Price."

Former Flint resident pleads guilty to sexually assaulting minor relative
— FOX 2 Staff, Apr 2, 2024

"A 53-year-old man who impregnated a minor relative pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting her in the early 2000s, according the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office. Tyrone Anthony Jones of Scottsboro, Alabama was a former resident of Flint, where the assaults took place between 2002 and 2003, the prosecutor's office released. On Tuesday, Jones pleaded guilty to 31 counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree."

In Durham, guilty plea comes 34 years after sexual assault
— WRAL Staff, Apr 2, 2024

"A man charged with a 1990 sexual assault recently pleaded guilty this week, Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry said. A sexual assault test kit, collected immediately after the August 1990 attack, was sent for DNA testing in 2021. A hit identifying Harris, now 57, was returned in April 2023 and he was charged in June 2023."

DeKalb County DA announces arrest of brothers linked to 1980s rapes, robberies
— FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team, Mar 27, 2024

Two men, 59-year-old Jeffrey Briney and 62-year-old David Briney, were arrested Feb. 27 in connection to multiple sexual assault cases from the 1980s. The suspects were identified via the efforts of the Georgia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Task Force.

Former Michigan township official faces life in prison after sexual assault conviction
— Brandon Carr, clickondetroit.com, Mar 23, 2024

"A Kalamazoo County jury returned guilty verdicts on four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against former Fabius Township Supervisor Kenneth Dwayne Linn, 58, of Three Rivers. Court documents say the assaults occurred in 2010, and the 58-year-old will be sentenced on April 16, with each charge being punishable by up to life in prison."

NC man serving time for murders charged in 1998 attempted murder, Raleigh police say
— Judith Retana, CBS 17, Mar 22, 2024

"The evidence in this cases was included as part of the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative initiated by the NC Department of Justice. NC DOJ was awarded a $2 million SAKI grant in fiscal year 2018. The funding has been used to complete their sexual assault kit inventory, develop a comprehensive, statewide approach for addressing previously unsubmitted SAKs and increase trauma-informed sexual assault investigations and prosecutions. Walker has a $5 million bond for the new charges. Even if he could make bail, Walker is not expected to finish complete his current sentence until at least Jan. 14, 2029."

Man who sexually assaulted two Mesa women, killing one 30+ years ago gets life in prison
— AZFamily Digital News Staff, Mar 15, 2024

"A man has been given life in prison after he pleaded guilty to a 1989 murder and sexual assault of a 22-year-old woman. It wasn’t until recently, when the DNA samples connected the crime scenes, that investigators had solid proof that tied Thomas David Cox as the primary suspect. Cold case detectives were able to use advanced DNA testing thanks to federal funding under the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative."

86-year-old man sentenced to 20 years in prison for 1986 Garland murder
— Peyton Yager, Fox 4, Mar 12, 2024

An 86-year-old man will likely live out his final years in prison after being captured and convicted for a murder that happened nearly 40 years ago. Advances in DNA technology made it happen.

Alleged serial rapist arrested after new unit begins to test decades-old rape kits
— WSBTV.com News Staff, Mar 7, 2024

"A specialized unit has made the first arrest involving a new batch of thousands of rape test kits dating back decades. Now, if the allegations are true, four victims who have lived with what happened to them since the 1980s now have a shot at justice."

PPB Brings Back Cold Case Unit
— Heather Roberts, OR Radio News Network, KBND.com, Mar 7, 2024

PPB is one of eight agencies around the country to receive a National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grant. Portland received $2.5 million to fund four detectives and provide $300,000 to conduct Forensic Genetic Genealogy testing. Homicides will be the top priority for the unit. Violent crimes will be prioritized based on time remaining on the statute of limitations. "We are, to the best of our ability, very committed to trying to find resolutions and answers for folks. And this grant, at a time of limited resources, limited capabilities, is going to be a huge, huge asset for us," says Portland Police Chief Bob Day.