News

Impact of Victim Advocacy Integration on Cold Case Investigations: Lessons Learned from the Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Kit Task Force
— Misty Luminais, PhD | Rachel Lovell, PhD | Margaret McGuire Joanna Klingenstein | Angela Kavadas | Laura Overman, Case Western University, Jul 23, 2020

New research brief from Cuyahoga County, OH SAKI site .

Woman sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually exploiting teenage girl
— KATU Staff, KATU 2, Jul 23, 2020

Woman sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually exploiting teenage girl based on case review by Multnomah County SAKI Working Group.

Virginia eliminates backlog of 2,665 untested rape kits
— Tom Jackman, The Washington Post, Jul 8, 2020

Virginia has eliminated a backlog of 2,665 untested rape kit tests . Approximately, 851 of those rape kits resulted in DNA profiles that were entered into CODIS, the national combined DNA index system, and 354 of those profiles resulted in “hits."

Florida convict pleads guilty to 1980s rapes in Tennessee
— WKRN.com, Jul 3, 2020

Man pleads guilty to two rapes from 1980s after DNA from previously unsubmitted SAKs was matched to him.

Minocqua Man Sentenced for Child Sexual Assault After Testing of Backlogged Sexual Assault Kits
— Wisconsin Department of Justice, EIN Press Wire, Jul 2, 2020

Testing of previously unsubmitted SAK led to conviction and sentencing (25 years) of man in Wisconsin.

Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault of a Child After Backlogged Kit Tested
— Wisconsin Department of Justice, Jun 9, 2020

Man sentenced to 25 years in prison as part of the Wisconsin SAKI project.

Accused rapist back in jail, charged with 2010 sex assault
— Matthew Reisen, Albuquerque Journal, May 30, 2020

DNA from previously unsubmitted sexual assault kit leads to arrest in case from 2010 .

DA: Rape suspect now facing 15 new charges in connection with 2012 Portland case
— Fox 12 Oregon, May 14, 2020

A 40-year-old man accused of raping a woman in 2013 is now facing additional charges in connection with a case from 2012, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.

PAVSA video link from April 9th
— PAVSA Facebook Account, May 11, 2020

Video produced by PAVSA in Duluth, MN detailing the effects of COVID-19 on Sexual Assault Investigations.

Identifying Serial Sexual Offenders Through Cold Cases
— Rachel E. Lovell, Ph.D., Angela Williamson, Ph.D., Thomas J. Dover, Ph.D., Timothy G. Keel, M.S., and Daniel J. Flannery, Ph.D., May 7, 2020

Testing the evidence contained in SAKs is crucial and, in most states, no longer optional for law enforcement. The benefits explained in these five recommendations make it clear that law enforcement must do all it can with the forensic advancements now available to bring justice to the victims of sexually motivated crimes. However, testing is just the first step—it should be followed by investigations and prosecutions. SAKI grants provide as much funding for prosecutions and investigations as they do for testing kits. Ultimately, both testing evidence and sharing information are key to identifying suspects and reaching successful prosecutions.