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US police apologise to victims after throwing away untested rape kits

The Fayetteville police force in North Carolina has admitted it threw away more than 300 rape kits.

WHEN VERONICA WAS raped more than 13 years ago, she says neither the police nor the hospital staff believed her story that a longtime friend attacked her while his mother was in the next room.

“I was treated like a female crying wolf,” said Veronica, who says the man raped her while she was unconscious. She believes he drugged her drink.

She was surprised, earlier this year, when she got a call from the initial investigating officer, John Somerindyke, who apologised for how she was treated and for something that Veronica didn’t yet know: Her rape kit was among 333 kits that Fayetteville police in North Carolina had thrown away.

Years after the kits were discarded, Fayetteville police began working with a crisis group to call the victims and tell them what happened.

The Joyful Heart Foundation, which works to end the backlogs, says Fayetteville police may stand alone in the effort to contact survivors about trashed rape kits.

“I don’t know of any others that have taken it on like Fayetteville has by apologising to survivors and to communities and trying to do what they can to fix it,” said Ilse Knecht, director of advocacy and policy for the foundation, founded by actress Mariska Hargitay.

Backlogs of untested rape kits have surfaced as a problem at police departments around the country. The foundation knows of at least 200,000 untested rape kits nationwide, Knecht said.

The kits, about the size of a shoe box, had been collected in Fayetteville between 1995 and 2008. Police began throwing them away in 1999 to make space in the evidence room. Somerindyke, now a lieutenant, discovered the kits were missing in February 2015 when he reviewed unsolved rape cases.

Unsolved cases

Of the 333 destroyed kits, 52 belonged to women whose cases had resulted in arrests, leaving 281 survivors with unsolved cases and no rape kits as evidence. Instead of simply moving on and vowing to do better in the future, the Fayetteville Police Department announced what happened and then called victims individually, including those cases in which arrests had been made.

“We felt it was the right thing to come forward,” Somerindyke said. “We felt like they had the right to know what had happened to their kit.”

The department enlisted the help of Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County, which got grant money and hired a victim’s advocate to make the calls.

The advocate, Danielle Sgro, said victims’ responses ran the gamut. Some were angry or sad their kits were destroyed and said the calls stirred up memories they’d pushed aside. But others were grateful that someone cared enough to call.

‘Humiliating’

Veronica, who agreed to let the AP use her first name, but not her last, said she’s among the grateful ones.

“There was an apology for things not being handled how they should have been,” said Veronica, 34, who joined the Air Force after her attack and moved around the country before settling in Fayetteville again. “He (Somerindyke) was interested in rectifying that as much as possible in the now. That’s beyond appreciated.”

In 90 percent of the cases involving the destroyed rape kits, someone was reached or the victim was no longer living, Somerindyke said.

Gathering evidence for a rape kit “is a humiliating, long, traumatic experience,” said Deanne Gerdes, executive director of Rape Crisis Volunteers. But she finds the response of the Fayetteville Police Department heartening.

“It happened. The kits were thrown away,” she said. “But the Fayetteville Police Department is now doing something about it. … If you reached out to any other jurisdiction, if they were honest, they would say yes, we have kits sitting on the shelf or yes, we threw kits away.”

Somerindyke said, “We could have and should have done better.”

Since 2009, it’s been illegal in North Carolina to destroy a rape kit. And law enforcement agencies must report the number of untested rape kits in their possession to the State Crime Laboratory.

‘Violated’

Veronica had been friends with her attacker for years when she went with him in June 2004 to the home he shared with his mother and drank part of an alcoholic beverage that she’s certain was laced with something that knocked her out. She woke up on his bed “and I knew I had been violated,” she said.

She escaped the house, and friends took her to a hospital. Veronica recalls that during the original investigation, Somerindyke seemed like he was just going through the motions. But when he called to tell her about the destroyed rape kit, “I didn’t know it was the same guy at all,” Veronica said. “He had a very genuine heartfelt interest in righting wrongs.”

Police reopened Veronica’s case, but without the rape kit, the district attorney declined to prosecute, Somerindyke said. However, the man whom she identified as her rapist is now behind bars on a murder charge. She plans to attend his trial and hopes to see her attacker sentenced to many years behind bars.

But the rest of the saga that began more than 13 years ago is behind her. “I don’t feel like a victim or a survivor,” she said. “I feel like a warrior.”

Read: The disappearance of Amy Fitzpatrick: 10 years on and still no closer to finding out what happened>

Read: Behind the messaging app that was temporarily blocked for inspiring protesters in Iran>

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    Mute Red Pirate 71
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    Sep 21st 2019, 2:06 PM

    Serious injuries because the state refuses to legalize fireworks but prefers thousands of them to be let off illegally. Same with drugs. Leave it to the underworld to police that too. Dumb and dumber.

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    Mute Paul
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    Sep 21st 2019, 2:10 PM

    @Red Pirate 71: serious injuries because someone brought illegal explosives into the country which were used illegally by untrained individuals. Personal responsibility goes a long way, it’s not the states fault all the time!

    966
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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Sep 21st 2019, 2:13 PM

    @Red Pirate 71: how would legalising fireworks prevent accidents like this?

    Next you’ll be blaming the government for the weather.

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    Mute Richie Kennedy
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    Sep 21st 2019, 2:17 PM

    @Red Pirate 71: How can you blame the government for teenagers being idiots?

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    Mute Luap
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    Sep 21st 2019, 2:38 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: Because the fireworks they could buy then would be regulated and have proper safety standards attached to them. I guarantee what caused this was some shitty black cat banger from the black market.

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    Mute Stephen Blood
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    Sep 21st 2019, 2:44 PM

    @Luap: most fireworks are bought in the north

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    Mute Gisbert Bayertz
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    Sep 21st 2019, 3:07 PM

    @Red Pirate 71: so you’re blaming the state for the stupid actions of two fellows who are old enough to know better?

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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    Sep 21st 2019, 3:13 PM

    @Red Pirate 71:

    Personal responsibility.

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    Mute Peter Mulligan
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    Sep 21st 2019, 4:44 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: Everyone knows the government is to blame for the weather !

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    Mute Sisi R
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    Sep 21st 2019, 6:28 PM

    @Richie Kennedy: because he is from that part of society himself.

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    Mute Gavin Scott
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    Sep 21st 2019, 6:53 PM

    @Luap: that’s pure speculation. Fireworks are dangerous in any kids’ hands. Also dangerous in the hands of untrained adults.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Sep 21st 2019, 8:39 PM

    @Red Pirate 71: ‘cos no one in countries where fireworks are legal has ever been injured?

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    Mute Anthony Doyle
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    Sep 22nd 2019, 2:42 AM

    @Red Pirate 71: and dumbest

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    Mute Cupid Stunt
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    Sep 22nd 2019, 5:28 AM

    @Luap: You guarantee it do you?

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    Mute STOIC SAVAGE
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    Sep 22nd 2019, 8:19 AM

    @Red Pirate 71: this is by far the most idiotic comment ive ever seen… What a dope!!!

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    Mute Noj Nikrub
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    Sep 22nd 2019, 12:06 PM

    @Red Pirate 71: it’s legal in the uk and they never have firework accidents!

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    Mute Ann Reddin
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    Sep 22nd 2019, 4:57 PM

    @Paul: It is very much the states responsibility to police this, they after all, are the ones who put the legislation in place. Wouldn’t be surprised if you are one of those people who buy fireworks on the black market for Halloween night.

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    Mute Disabled Junkie
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    Sep 23rd 2019, 3:10 PM

    @Paul: If the state prohibits something they create a black market. Black market dealers will sell to children! Were fireworks legal and sold in shops, you would be able to have laws to restrict children from buying them.

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    Mute ros aodha
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    Sep 21st 2019, 5:56 PM

    Zero sympathy unless they were subjected of an actual accident, on the other hand if they did this to themselves whilst mucking around illegally with illegal fireworks… well, Darwin always wins.

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    Mute Dotty Mc Dot
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    Sep 22nd 2019, 5:15 PM

    @ros aodha: they are only kids you muppet. Be careful what you write . Family members could be reading this. Fool

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    Mute ken gray
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    Sep 21st 2019, 4:32 PM

    Cabra fireworks intimidation of innocent people gangs on bikes lawless living off the state I’m entitled give me everything now and I will promise to be vermin leeching off the state right to the end !

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    Mute Liam Ó hAodha
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    Sep 21st 2019, 2:43 PM

    Apparently one lad lost a couple of fingers, the other an eye.

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    Mute In my opinion
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    Sep 21st 2019, 5:53 PM

    @Liam Ó hAodha: ah well.

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Sep 21st 2019, 3:19 PM

    So?

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    Mute Devilsavocado
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    Sep 21st 2019, 6:38 PM

    Anyone see the video going around with the AC Milan fan(I think) losing a hand thanks to a firework,, gruesome to say the least… :(

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    Mute Dave Forde
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    Sep 21st 2019, 10:06 PM

    @Devilsavocado: ya looks cool

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    Mute Susanne Morgan
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    Sep 21st 2019, 11:44 PM

    They were setting off fireworks ‘on the southside’ as well yesterday – could only hear them, but one sounded like a lovely sparkely one – only it was in the middle of the afternoon in bright sunshine … what a waste

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    Mute Dave Forde
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    Sep 21st 2019, 10:07 PM

    Well if you play with fire……

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    Mute Kerrydone
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    Sep 22nd 2019, 3:06 AM

    Been gangs of these youths setting them off around pearse street since mid august, aiming them at people passing by. Gards dont seem to be doing anything to stop it

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    Mute clairebear
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    Sep 22nd 2019, 1:11 AM

    I was getting off the Luas at Broadstone yesterday evening when a group of teenagers let off proper fireworks beside the track. They exploded at ground level. I was thinking they could’ve seriously injured someone. One girl walking beside them got such a fright. Wonder if it was the same group they were on the green Luas line to Cabra

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    Mute Jesse James
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    Sep 21st 2019, 3:18 PM

    The Dumb F**kers were messing with Explosives, shit happens when your that thick.

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    Mute Marie McG
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    Sep 21st 2019, 3:46 PM

    @Jesse James: Maybe learn how to spell ‘you’re’ before calling people dumb. And get some empathy while you’re at it too.

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    Mute Martin Harte
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    Sep 21st 2019, 5:14 PM

    @Marie McG: play stupid games win stupid prizes

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    Mute Disabled Junkie
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    Sep 23rd 2019, 3:11 PM

    Nobody is doing 5 years for lighting fireworks. What nonsense! You wouldn’t even get 5 years for murder in this country.

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    Mute Manni
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    Sep 21st 2019, 2:04 PM

    It’s a little early for fireworks.
    Kids will be kids. Some have to learn the hard way.

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    Mute Dr. Emmett Lathrop
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    Sep 21st 2019, 2:48 PM

    Two more candidates for the Darwin Awards :-)

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    Mute Manni
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    Sep 21st 2019, 2:06 PM

    Kids will be kids.
    Some have to learn the hard way.

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