Results from backlogged sexual assault kits have revealed at least two serial rapists in Louisville.
Louisville Metro Police Department has received 50 of around 2,000 backlogged DNA kits discovered in a state audit.
The department has started the notification process for the victims.
Sgt. Tim Stokes of LMPD’s Special Victims Unit is responsible for those calls.
So far, the department has been able to reach 15 victims from the 50 cases, which span from 2010 to 2014. Many victims have moved, changed numbers or had issues with drugs and mental health.
A grant from the District Attorney of New York, known as the DANY Grant, paid for kits to be sent to a private lab. After the lab does the testing, results are delivered to the Kentucky State Police and then sent along to Louisville Metro Police Department or another department.
Of the 50 kits they have received, 44 have had DNA hits, meaning the suspect has committed a felony before. That is a high success rate.
After the kit is back and the notification is made, detectives move forward.
Many victims, though, don’t want to move forward and so far there are no new arrests yet.
Stokes is paired with Nicole Carroll, a victim advocate.
She said the goal isn’t an arrest as much as helping victims improve their lives.
Stokes believes getting through all of the 2,000 kits may take a few years. He said if the kits come in quicker, the department will bring in more help to not create a second backlog.
Source: WAVE
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