More alleged rapists identified by kit testing in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Officials say more than 5,600 of 12,000 backlogged rape evidence kits have been tested in Memphis, leading to the identification of nearly three dozen alleged rapists.
Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s office reports investigations have resulted in 72 requests for indictments of known individuals or their DNA profiles. From those indictments, officials said 35 alleged rapists have been identified, including 20 believed to be offenders in multiple cases.
Those numbers represent increases from the March 9 report.
Experts say Memphis has one of the nation’s largest known backlogs of rape kits, and Wharton created a task force to work through them. Rape victims have filed a lawsuit over the untested kits.
The task force said Tuesday that 5,686 backlogged kits have been tested since they were discovered in 2013.
