'The Mess' Archives - Institute for Public Service Reporting - Memphis

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Institute for Public Service Reporting – Memphis

Retired Memphis police detective Cody Wilkerson once carried this badge. The former sex crimes detective testified about the mishandling of numbers of rape investigations by the Memphis Police Department. MPD confirmed in 2013 it was holding 12,000 older rape kits, many never tested for DNA. Evidence suggests other kits were lost or destroyed. Many victims are still seeking justice, answers and closure from cases dating back 30 years or more. (Karen Pulfer Focht/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Retired Memphis police detective Cody Wilkerson once carried this badge. The former sex crimes detective testified about the mishandling of numbers of rape investigations by the Memphis Police Department. MPD confirmed in 2013 it was holding 12,000 older rape kits, many never tested for DNA. Evidence suggests other kits were lost or destroyed. Many victims are still seeking justice, answers and closure from cases dating back 30 years or more. (Karen Pulfer Focht/Special to The Daily Memphian)

'The Mess'

Part 3: Special investigative unit chases predators revealed by rape kits – finally – as time runs out

Massive remedial effort seeks justice for victims in neglected and overlooked cold cases

Marc PerrusquiaAugust 5, 2020

Celia Reynolds has carried the pain of her rape for 37 years. “Every single day you feel it,” she says. She was raped in 1983 while walking to work. “They did not investigate it at all,” she says. (Karen Pulfer Focht/Special to Daily Memphian)

Celia Reynolds has carried the pain of her rape for 37 years. “Every single day you feel it,” she says. She was raped in 1983 while walking to work. “They did not investigate it at all,” she says. (Karen Pulfer Focht/Special to Daily Memphian)

'The Mess'

Part 2: After decades of waiting for justice, Memphis victims say they’ve been ‘Raped Twice’

Aging victims seek justice and the release of records to prove MPD neglected rape investigations

Marc PerrusquiaAugust 4, 2020

Sandy Bromley, director of the Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center, says she has revamped the center, and that many improvements have been made to address the needs of rape victims in Memphis. (Karen Pulfer Focht/Special to the Daily Memphian)

Sandy Bromley, director of the Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center, says she has revamped the center, and that many improvements have been made to address the needs of rape victims in Memphis. (Karen Pulfer Focht/Special to the Daily Memphian)

'The Mess'

Part 2 Extra: MPD defends ‘bid system’ Said to put unqualified officers in sex crimes unit

Critics say labor union contract often keeps MPD from staffing the best-qualified detectives

Marc PerrusquiaAugust 4, 2020

'The Mess'

Part 2 Extra: How Memphis Failed

A critic's perspective of MPD's historical failure to test rape kits

Marc PerrusquiaAugust 4, 2020

A drop box sits inside the TBI office in Memphis, with forensic evidence that has been collected. (Karen Pulfer Focht/Special to the Daily Memphian)

A drop box sits inside the TBI office in Memphis, with forensic evidence that has been collected. (Karen Pulfer Focht/Special to the Daily Memphian)

'The Mess'

Part 2 Extra: MPD’s explanation

A police perspective on the testing of rape kits

Marc PerrusquiaAugust 4, 2020

'The Mess'

Part 1: Memphis rape victim conducts own investigation decades later, discovers evidence dumped in trash

Debby Dalhoff's unsolved attack could still be prosecuted today if not for police missteps

Marc PerrusquiaAugust 3, 2020

PSRMemphis

PSRMemphis

'The Mess'

Part 1 Extra: Ex-Memphis Officer recalls filling van, dumping evidence as police storage space ran out

Thousands of sex crimes cases may have been affected

Marc PerrusquiaAugust 3, 2020