News

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.

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.