Massachusetts DA pledges new look at decades old Framingham rape case
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Updated: 9:54 PM EDT Jul 8, 2021
Karen Anderson
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Updated: 9:54 PM EDT Jul 8, 2021
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DECADES-OLD ATTACKS. >> IT MADE ME FEEL REALLY SMALL AND UNIMPORTANT AND JUST FORGOTTEN. KAREN: SHE WAS RAPED WITH A GUN TO HER HEAD 30 YEARS AGO. AFTER MAKING A PLEA TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR HELP, SHE FTEL VICTIMIZED AGAIN. I>> STARTED THIS WITH SOME HOPE. IT WAS JUST SHATTER. TO A LOW LEVELF O DISAPPOINTMENT. FEELING ABANDONED AND WORTHLESS LAWTO ENFORCEMENT KAREN: UNCOVERING A BACKLOG OF THOUSANDS OF UNTESTED RAPE KITS AT THE STATE PICOLE CRIME LAB. THAT REPORT MADE HERND A HER COWORKER WHO WAS ALSO RAPED BY THE ATTACKER THAT DAY, WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EVIDENCE IN THEIR CASE. >> I LIKE TO KNOW WHERE IT IS EXACTLY. I LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ISNA D AVAILABLE THAT HASOT N DETERIORATED OVERTIME. KARE N: THE KNEW THEY PROVIDED THE ATTACKERS DNA TO POLICE. THE CASE HAD GONE COLD. THEY STAEDRT REACHING OUT TO ETH FRAMINGHAM POLIC DEPEARTMENT AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN MARCH. >> I LEFT DETAILED MESSAGES ABOUT MY CASE. I'M REQUESTING SOME INFORMATION TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT MY RAPE KIT HAS BEEN TESTED. REPORT: ERONE OF THE WOMEN DID SPEAK ONCE TO A VICTIM'S ADVOCATE AT THE D.A.'S OFFICE. BUT THE CONVERSATION LEFT THEM BOTH CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS LITTLE INTEREST IN REOPENING THEIR CASE. A BETTER CONVERSATION FOLLOWED WITH A FRAMINGHAM DETECTIVE PROMISING TO HELP. AS THE MONTHS WTEN BY, STILL NO ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS. WE HAVESHE T ATTACKER'S DNA PROFILE DEVELOPED. WAS IT ENTERED IN THE FBI'S NATIONAL DNA DATABASE. COULD NEW TECHNOLOGY GENERAT NEW LEADSN I THEIR CASE? THIS WEEK,NE O OF THE WOMEN GOT A VOICE MAIL FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THAT FINALLY LADY TO ANSWERS. ETH D.A.'S OFFICE TDOL THEM THE RAPE KITS WERE TESD.TE A DNA PROFILEAS W ENTERED IN THE FBI NATIONAL DATABASE IN 2001. FOR TWO DECADES, THERE HAVE BEEN NO MATCHES. BUT NOW THERE'S A PROMISE TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE CASE. >> WE FIRST STARTED THIS CONVSAERTION. THE QUESTION WAS WHAT CAN WE FIND? KAREN: SHE HOPES TO USE GENETIC GENEALOGY WHERE INVESTIGATORS WORK WITH ONLEIN DNA DAYS BASES -- DATASABE AND FAMILY TREES TO IDENTIFY POTTIENAL SUSPECTS. DO YOU HEAV HOPE THERE CAN BE NEW LEADS. >> YES. EVEN IN GENETIC GEAENLOGY IS NOT A POSSIBILITY. WE'LL DO OTHER KINDS OF FORENSIC TESTING THAT MAY TAKE US TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN IDENTIFY A PERPETRATOR. KAREN: THE SURVIVORS ARE PLEASED TO SEE THIS ATTENTION DIRECTLY FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. THEY'LL BE FOLLONGWI CLOSELY