zReportage.com Story of the Week #750: TUESDAY August 25, 2020: OVERLOOKED FORGOTTEN DISCARDED by award winning ZUMA Press photojournalist KAREN PULFER FOCHT
zReportage.com Story of the Week #750: TUESDAY August 25, 2020: OVERLOOKED FORGOTTEN DISCARDED by award winning ZUMA Press photojournalist KAREN PULFER FOCHT. Karen worked together with The Institute for Public Service Reporting on this investigative project on neglected rape cold cases. STORY: When the Memphis Police Department confirmed in 2013 the discovery of an estimated 12,000 older rape kits, many never tested for DNA, Susanna Parkinson refused to refer to the long ignored evidence as a ‘backlog.’ Instead, Parkinson, who worked closely with MPD as a longtime sexual assault intervention specialist and victim advocate at the Rape Crisis Center, called it ‘The Mess’ a collection of haphazardly stored and discarded evidence, poor decisions, missed chances and law enforcement’s pattern of disregard for survivors of rape. Police destroyed evidence in hundreds, possibly thousands, of sex crimes cases, an unknown number involving the most-serious cases of aggravated rape that could still be prosecuted today. The city of Memphis has spent .5 million, so far, to defend against two rape kit lawsuits filed by women seeking the release of records that could answer haunting questions and prove police neglected their cases. Many victims are still seeking justice, answers and closure from cases dating back 30 years or more. Welcome to: OVERLOOKED FORGOTTEN DISCARDED
Scott Mc Kiernan, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, ZUMA Press
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