FRANKFORT, Ky. (WDRB) – The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded a $1.4 million grant to the Kentucky Attorney General’s office for expansion of its sexual assault Cold Case Unit.
“We will get justice, and make Kentucky a safer place for our families,” said Attorney General Andy Beshear.
Many of the cases resulted from the state's backlog of rape kits discovered in 2015.
The kits have all been tested, but there are still some unmatched DNA samples.
Beshear said the grant will fund a new crime analyst and specialized testing for up to 50 kits.
“That means in cases that may have stalled right now, we may be able to get the critical information we need to bring someone to justice, and to provide justice for a survivor,” Beshear told reporters.
Beshear said he will also hire a new investigator to specifically work with the Louisville Metro Police Dept.
“Nearly half of the kits that we have tested as part of the backlog are from Jefferson County,” Beshear said.
In a statement, Sgt. Tim Stokes of the LMPD Sex Crimes Unit said, “The additional investigator and resources provided to the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative through the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office will add strength and allow the LMPD Sex Crimes Unit to continue to move forward in bringing closure to our victims and the additional ability to hold suspects accountable.”
Beshear said adding another investigator in Louisville will free up others to focus on cases in the rest of the state.
Beshear, who is campaigning to unseat Gov. Matt Bevin, said the announcement is not a response to an anti-crime initiative Bevin unveiled two weeks ago.
The administration was awarded a $630,000 federal grant to hire victim advocates for the Kentucky State Police.
Beshear said the expansion of the Cold Case Unit will "absolutely" complement the state police program.
The Attorney General’s Office said the Cold Case Unit, local law enforcement, and prosecutors have secured ten indictments statewide linked to the rape kit backlog.
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