Timeline

In 2009, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was awarded a grant, in part, to review approximately 100 unsolved cold case sexual assaults in order to identify 20 cases suitable for DNA analysis.

In 2011, an audit discovered 4,306 sexual assault kits housed at the evidence vault. The kits were collected between 1984 and 2011. From October 2011 to December 2012, 1,043 of the 4,306 sexual assault kits were audited to determine their suitability for DNA analysis. Approximately 650 kits were selected.

In 2014, fueled by a national movement to analyze untested sexual assault kits, LVMPD identified 5,600 kits collected between 1985 and 2014 that had not been tested. Additionally, 900 untested kits were identified from other law enforcement agencies in southern Nevada.

In 2015, the Nevada Attorney General formed, and continues to chair, the Nevada Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Working Group to address the backlog of untested kits. This statewide multidisciplinary group is comprised of local law enforcement, prosecutors, forensic scientists, victim advocates, nurses and legislators.

In 2016, LVMPD was awarded grant funding to analyze the untested kits in its custody. Due to this effort, many sexual assault cases, some decades old, were re-investigated by Cold Case Detectives which placed the initial investigations under scrutiny. Common errors involved the perception and treatment of sexual assault victims. To improve our department's response to sexual assault incidents, and to strengthen our bond with victims, the Sex Crimes Section adopted three general reforms:

Victim Centeredness
A Victim-Centered investigation seeks to provide enduring attention to the victim's needs and well-being throughout the entire criminal justice effort.

Trauma-Informed Investigations
Trauma-Informed means recognizing the physical and psychological toll the crime of sexual assault has taken upon a victim, seeking to both understand and account for its effects throughout the criminal justice process.

Offender-Focused Investigations
An offender-focused investigation concentrates attention upon the suspect's actions near and during the time of the sexual assault in an effort to identify modus operandi and predatory behavior that, initially, may be difficult to perceive.

In 2018 and 2020, LVMPD grant funding was continued and has been utilized to conduct a thorough review of cold case sexual assaults.

These case reviews include reviewing cases for viable leads, conducting follow-up interviews, locating and prosecuting suspects, and providing additional support to victims. To date, more than 3,500 cases have been reviewed which has resulted in 192 arrests.