News

Arrest made in Hoke County rape, kidnapping cold case after rape kit is sent for DNA testing
— ABC 11 Eyewitness News, Nov 2, 2018

Detectives with the Fayetteville Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit have made an arrest in a 21 year old case thanks to DNA recovered from a previously unsubmitted sexual assault kit.

Austin Police Department Finishes Testing Sexual Assault Evidence Kits Stuck in Backlog For Years
— Audrey McGlinchy, KUT 90.5, Nov 2, 2018

Austin Police Department has completed testing on the thousands of previously unsubmitted sexual assualt kits that sat on their shelves since the 1990s.

Nevada testing of backlogged sexual assault kits leads to 17 arrests
— Jordan Gartner. ABC 13 Action News, Nov 2, 2018

The Nevada Attorney General's Office announced that nearly 8,000 previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits have been sent for testing. So far, there have been 600 DNA matches and 17 arrests from completed tests.

Police make arrest in 21-year-old cold case murder
— WSB-TV 2 Atlanta, Nov 2, 2018

Police in Fulton County, GA were able to use genetic genealogy to find and arrest the suspect in a murder case from 1997.

Wichita police commit to send rape-kit backlog of nearly 1.700 for DNA testing
— Chance Swaim, The Wichita Eagle, Nov 2, 2018

The Wichita Police Department announced that they are instituting a "submit all" policy for testing sexual assault kits, including their 1,700 backlogged kits from 2002-2017.

22-year-old rape in Tom McCall Waterfront Park solved through sexual assault kit
— Aimee Green, The Orgonian, Oct 31, 2018

DNA from a previously unsubmitted sexual assault kit led to a conviction of a suspect in a sexual assault from 1996.

Oregon Clears Backlog Of More Than 5,000 Rape Kits
— Conrad Wilson, OPB TV, Oct 31, 2018

Oregon state has cleared its backlog of more than 5,000 previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits. Through this testing there have been 4 convictions, several hundred new entries into CODIS, and more than 100 matches to evidence in other cases of known offenders so far.

CMPD cold case unit arrests suspect in 1992 rape case
— WSOC TV, Oct 30, 2018

DNA from a previously submitted sexual assault kit led CMPD to arrest a suspect in a case from 1992.

SAKI TTA Webinar: Law Enforcement and Victim Advocates: Supporting Survivors Together
— SAKI TTA, Oct 30, 2018

This webinar was presented by Teresa M. Stafford, Senior Director of Victim Services and Outreach with the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC), Marya L. Simmons, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Training and Technical Assistance Provider, and Lieutenant Jordan Satinsky, Deputy Commander with the Montgomery County Police Department. When victim advocates and law enforcement work together, survivors are more effectively supported and have a better understanding of the judicial system process and their rights. This webinar focused on each discipline using their expertise and trauma-informed approaches in a collaborative manner to overcome barriers and promote productive teamwork to support survivors.

Sex assualt victims can track rape kits in online system
— KING Staff, K5 News, Oct 30, 2018

A new computerized tracking system for sexual assault kits has been implemented in Washington. This new system will allow survivors of sexual assault to track the progress of their kit and potential resulting case as it moves forward.