Ohio investigators test evidence from 14,000 backlogged rape kits

The kits provided thousands of pieces of evidence that could lead to suspects but it was difficult to keep up with them all, state leaders said.

New rules went into place in reviewing the kits for evidence to ensure a backlog like this doesn’t happen again, according to state leaders.

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“When agencies submit kits without delay, suspects can be identified faster, taken off the streets sooner and future attacks prevented,” Attorney General Mike DeWine said.

Almost 370 rape kits from Springfield that pointed to possible suspects in 135 cases were once a part of the backlog.