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Woman’s 2006 rape kit sat untested for 11 years in New Mexico. Now man convicted
— Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, May 20, 2025
"A man accused of kidnapping and raping a woman from a New Mexico parking lot in 2006 has been convicted, prosecutors say. Erik Thomas Lea was found guilty of first-degree kidnapping and two counts of criminal sexual penetration, the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office said in a May 19 Facebook post."
Texas Rangers, Local Police Help Serve Justice to Serial Child Rapist
— Kristin Barclay, May 1, 2025
"The man responsible for sex crimes against two young girls in Texas and Arizona will now spend the rest of his life behind bars. Nearly 40 years after the first of the two crimes was committed, a Rusk Co. Grand Jury gave David Roy Mundt, 62, of Longview, Texas, that sentence last week.
On June 15, 2024, that testing and research identified two brothers as possible suspects. The first brother was eventually ruled out because his DNA was already in the CODIS database and would have previously produced a positive match. Investigators then obtained a DNA sample from the second brother, David Roy Mundt, for testing and comparison through DPS’ Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program. The program is funded by the Department of Justice/Bureau of Justice Assistance (DOJ/BJA), which provides investigative funding for agencies across the United States to further unsolved sexual assaults and sexually related homicides, aiming to bring justice to the victims and their families."
Grand jury indicts man wanted in 36-year-old cold case in Springfield
— KY3 Staff, Apr 24, 2025
"In 2019, because of the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, Williams’ sexual assault kit was tested. The test revealed the DNA from a man, but it was insufficient for database searches. In 2024, new advances in DNA testing became available and, with funding provided by Season of Justice, Williams’ sexual assault kit was tested again, identifying Bowles as the suspect."
"Man convicted in sexual assault of sleeping camper decade ago, AK officials say
— Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, Apr 16, 2025
"A man has been convicted nearly a decade after he’s accused of physically and sexually assaulting a woman at an Alaska campground, officials said. Andrew Byrd, now 43, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count each of second- and third-degree assault after a two-week trial, the Alaska Department of Law said in an April 15 news release.
A sexual assault kit was done, and it was tested after state troopers in 2016 received a Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grant, prosecutors said."
Arizona man indicted for decades-old sex crimes
— Brent Corrado and Lauren Clark, Fox10Phoenix, Apr 9, 2025
"A man accused of committing sex crimes decades ago in the Valley has been indicted by a grand jury. On April 9, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced the indictment of 45-year-old Dat Vu in connection to the crimes, which happened in Phoenix and Glendale between 2000 and 2005.
Vu was identified as the suspect through DNA testing. The testing was paid for by Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grants, MCAO said.
"SAKI grants help us take a crucial step toward closure by providing the resources necessary to process sexual assault kits,"" Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said. ""It’s not only about solving these cases but restoring hope and giving victims the long-overdue justice they deserve."
Suspect pleads guilty in decades-old sex assault, burglary in Charlotte
— ASHLEY VAN HAVERE, spectrumlocalnews, Apr 2, 2025
"A 31-year-old cold case was solved after advances in DNA technology led to the identification of a suspect in a sexual assault and burglary case, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Wednesday.
In 2022, evidence from the case was sent for advanced forensic analysis. The testing uncovered a partial male DNA sample, which was entered into the State Combined DNA Index System and produced a match, identifying Leslie."
