Tulsa Police Seek Funding To Test All Untested Rape Kits

There are hundreds of rape kits -- untested -- collecting dust at the Tulsa Police Department. That means hundreds of rapists who never stood trial.

Friday, October 3rd 2014, 10:27 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Police Seek Funding To Test All Untested Rape Kits

There are hundreds of rape kits -- untested -- collecting dust at the Tulsa Police Department. That means hundreds of rapists who never stood trial.

Tulsa Police say because so many rapists don't just stop, its is important to get all rape kits tested. That is easier said than done. The tests are expensive and could cost the police department tens of thousands of dollars. But police say running those tests would be worth every penny.

Rape kits are not backlogged in Tulsa, according to Tulsa Police Department. But there are hundreds, if not thousands, of untested rape kits.

"But the new thought process is that you test all of the kits, regardless of whether they were needed or not," said Police Sgt. Mark Mears with the department's Sex Crimes Division.

There are untested rape kits because, sometimes victims don't press charges or DNA isn't necessary to prosecute.

TPD keeps those kits; some stored since the 1990's.

Sgt. Mears says all of that untested DNA could connect a rapist to more rapes.

"You'll find the same suspect in multiple cases, and we know that to be true," said Sgt. Mark Mears.

This summer, Tulsa Police identified Desmond Campbell as the suspect in seven sexual assaults. Police were able to identify Campbell because DNA, from a rape kit, matched his DNA already in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections database.

7/7/2014 Related Story: Court Documents Detail Tulsa Police Case Against Serial Rape Suspect

"The rape kits are the gold mine for law enforcement," said Tim McGinty, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor.

CBS News reports that when police in Cleveland started testing all rape kits with state funds, investigators found many suspects were serial rapists, attacking five, six or up to seven times.

"They don't stop raping until they're dead or they're physically unable to get out of bed and go attack somebody," said Tim McGinty.

The Tulsa Police's Forensic Lab says rape kit tests run about $1,300. Sgt. Mears is now working with the Joyful Heart Foundation to secure federal funding to start testing untested rape kits.

"I think we're on our way there," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Mark Mears.

200 accused rapists have been indicted in Cleveland, Ohio and that's just from testing half of Cleveland's untested rape kits.