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$35 Million Reasons to Test Your Backlog
Melissa MourgesChief, Forensic Sciences/Cold Case Unit
New York County District Attorney’s Office
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N.Y. / Region | NYT Now
New York Initiative to Help Other Cities Clear Rape-Kit Backlogs
Cyrus R. Vance Jr., the Manhattan district attorney, announced that his office had committed up to $35
million to eliminate a backlog of rape kits that await testing– deadline June 1st.
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New York City’s Backlog Project
17,000 kits citywide: 1989 - 1998
Manhattan: 3,799
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Why Test? POPULATE THE DATABASES!!OCME couldn’t do them and keep up with new
cases
OUTSOURCED
Bode /Cellmark/ GeneScreen
Swabs only/600 kits per month
October 2000 - April 2003
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Lots of problems….
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Forklift Approach
We tested everything: open cases, closed cases, stranger cases, acquaintance cases, cases beyond
the statute of limitations
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We pried police files from “secure storage” in the basement of the MSVS squad
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Problem: Incomplete paperwork Victim’s name = “Known to Department” Solution: Contract labs Xerox front of rape kit for file
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A victim who undergoes rape kit collection expects that kit will be tested.
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We test all the evidence in other types of cases
“Don’t bother to test these guns and drugs; we know who was in possession because we got them red-handed!”
NOT!
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Many Benefits of Forklift Approach
Corroboration of all kinds:Cases with Compromised Victims
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Confused or Elderly Victims
Victim #1: 56 year old woman, with slurred speech and history of alcohol abuse. Police thought she was intoxicated when she
reported rape; in fact, she was a stroke victim. Case was unsolved.
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Confused or Elderly Victims• Victim #2: Elderly “pigeon lady” who was attacked in
elevator after feeding birds. Reported rape. Police suspected raped in retribution, because her grandchildren involved in drugs. Case was unsolved.
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Cases matched each other, then CODIS hit to Carleton Evans.
Convicted after trial = 20 years.
Moral of the story: 2 is better than 1; gaps in victims’ memories less important with DNA evidence
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Sex Worker/Drug Addicted Victims
Victim #1: Prostitute reports john with butcher knife raped her. Case unsolved.
Victim #2: Prostitute reports john with butcher knife raped her. Case unsolved.
Victim #3: Addict reports man with butcher knife raped her during drug transaction. Case unsolved.
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All cases match to same guy.Convicted after trial = 25 to
100 yearsMoral of the story: the rape of one prostitute may go unsolved; DNA may not prove a thing; but three victims makes a serial rapist and a
compelling case.
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Benefits of Forklift Approach:“Date” Rapists
We linked several different perps in “date-rape”cases.Moral of the story: One drunk girl who wakes up confused
about what happened is a shame; 2 or 3 with the same guy points to a predator.
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Even When We Know WHO DID IT, TESTING PROVIDES CORROBORATION!
Moral of the Story: Prosecutor still needs to prove the who, what, where, when and how, even in an
acquaintance case. DNA helps!
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Benefits of Forklift Approach:Acquaintance Rape Solves Stranger Rape
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Victim #1 reports rape by husband, then drops charges.
Victim #2 reports stranger rape; case unsolved.
Case to case CODIS match; we know ID of assailant in the intimate partner case;
stranger case is solved because the intimate partner kit was tested.
Moral of the story: Testing kits with known assailants can solve other
cases!
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Benefits of Forklift ApproachImpact on current cases
• Defendant had pleaded guilty to a Manhattan rape, and was begging judge for mercy.
• He argued that this behavior was an aberration, no record.• Days before sentencing, we received CODIS hit to 5 other
Manhattan cases and 2 Queens cases – all barred by SOL.• Judge used this information to give maximum sentence.
MORAL of the Story: TIMING IS EVERYTHING!
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Benefits of Forklift Approach:Detecting New Patterns
• Serial rapists often go undetected- they move, change MO, learn from mistakes, escalate violence.
• Recent NDIS hit from offender in Puerto Rico to 13 unsolved NYC home invasion/rapes: all barred by SOL.
• Can provide the information to parole.
Manhattan:11 rapes
Queens: 1 rape
Bronx: 1 rape
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Benefits of Forklift Approach:Victims in time-barred cases write
parole letters. Their voices are heard.
Moral of the Story: Even cases barred by the Statute of Limitations provide important evidence!
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• Tested in 2005, 1973 underpants matched to 23 cases in three states… from the 1980’s and 1990’s
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Unexpected Benefits of Forklift Approach• SOL outrage led to change in law in 2006.• Large number of CODIS-eligible profiles• Success stories led legislature to expand convicted
offender database.• NY now takes DNA from all convicted felons and all
persons convicted of Penal Law misdemeanors.
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Benefits of Forklift Approach: EXONERATION
Michael Mercer was freed after 12 years when backlog testing using new technology identified Arthur Brown as the true rapist.
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1405 Park Avenue, NYCMarch 19, 1991
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The 18 year-old victim got on the
elevator. A man got on, too.
He pulled a gun, and forced her to the
rooftop landing where he raped and robbed
her.
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She went to the hospital, where a rape kit was done.
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The victim moves out for three months. When she returns, she sees Michael Mercer and identifies him
as her rapist.
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Rape kit proves negative
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Mercer was convicted and sentenced for rape
20½ to 41 years
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Michael Mercer’s convicted offender profile entered CODIS in December, 2001
• A profile from the victim’s rape kit was entered into CODIS in April, 2003.
• On May 14, 2003, Manhattan DA’s Office is notified by the OCME that the DNA profile from the victim’s rape kit matched convicted offender Arthur Brown.
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Um, what?• What went wrong?• Who’s Arthur Brown? A convicted rapist!• We have a problem because Michael Mercer was
convicted, NOT Arthur Brown
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We found the victim on May 15, 2003
• She had since become an NYPD police officer• Showed her a photo array. She picked Arthur Brown • She fell apart. We arranged counseling.
What did we do? • Checked the convicted offender sample – no mix up• Examined rape kit – all envelopes properly labeled
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On May 16, 2003, detectives interviewed Arthur Brown in jail
• He admitted to earlier robberies and rapes.• He says he is “haunted” by what he had done.• He refuses to discuss this case.
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As best we could figure, the original serologist thought he tested all four swabs, but he had
only tested three.
The backlog lab developed a profile from the fourth, untested swab.
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On Monday, May 19, 2003, detectives drive Michael Mercer from state prison to Manhattan
Supreme Court.
Mercer has no idea what’s going on.
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DA makes motion to vacate judgment based on newly discovered evidence.• Mercer is a free man.• Years Mercer served in prison: 12• Days from cold hit to exoneration: 5
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Disadvantages of Forklift Approach