In Serial Rape Case That Stumped Police, Genealogy Database Leads to Arrest

For more than 10 years, his identity eluded investigators Enter Article DATE HERE About a decade ago, Fayetteville, N.C., was terrorized by a series of rapes committed on and around a major thoroughfare on the northern side of the city. From March 2006 until January 2008, the police said, a man they called the Ramsey Street Rapist assaulted vi...

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HCSO Deputy terminated for alleged theft from evidence room


Sheriff Christopher added that this is the first time since he's been Sheriff that something like this has happened. September 7, 2018 A Haywood County Sheriff's Deputy has been terminated for allegedly accessing and removing items from the department's evidence room without authorization. According to a press release sent out by the sheriff's offi...

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Suspect In Decade-Old Serial Rapes Arrested, With Help Of Genealogy Database


"We were able to obtain his DNA and get it off to the state crime lab, and we got a match yesterday," years later!! August 23, 2108 John Somerindyke of the Fayetteville Police Department couldn't stop smiling. "We made an arrest," he told a roomful of reporters on Wednesday. "Finally." For more than 10 years, police In Fayetteville, N.C., had been ...

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Kannapolis officer retires after 30 years


Long time IAPE Member August 6, 2018 Kannapolis Police Officer Ruth Stewart recently retired from the department after serving the residents of the city for 30 years. Stewart served as a patrol officer, DARE officer, evidence custodian and training coordinator. "Ruth has been a very valuable employee over the years and has worn many hats for our ag...

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Technician stole money from evidence division, Southern Pines police say


A former Southern Pines police employee faces dozens of charges after an audit revealed money missing from the Property and Evidence Division Enter Article DATE HERE SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (WNCN) - A former Southern Pines police employee faces dozens of charges after an audit revealed money missing from the Property and Evidence Division, offici...

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Former NC police chief arrested for selling confiscated guns he should have returned, cops say


Arrested and faces charges of selling confiscated guns, according to law enforcement. July 25, 2018 The former chief of a North Carolina police department has been arrested and faces charges of selling confiscated guns, according to law enforcement. Eric Tinsley worked for the Biltmore Forest Police Department for 27 years, including 11 as the chie...

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Former Gates Co. Sheriff’s Office sergeant charged with stealing firearms, drug possession

A federal grand jury indicted a former sergeant for the Gates County Sheriff's Office Monday with stealing firearms and possessing a significant amount of controlled substances with the intent to distribute them. May 7, 2018 RALEIGH – A federal grand jury indicted a former sergeant for the Gates County Sheriff's Office Monday with stealing firearms...

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North Carolina man arrested after decades-old rape kit tested

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said at a news conference Wednesday that 56-year-old Warren Lee Caldwell was arrested March 1 and jailed in connection with the rape of an 18-year-old in 1990 and of a 17-year-old in 1994. March 7, 2018 RALEIGH, N.C. — Police in North Carolina's largest city have accused a man of two rapes of teenagers dating back more ...

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Audit shows North Carolina has 15K untested sexual assault kits

A new state law required all law enforcement agencies to report their numbers of untested rape kits to the State Crime Lab earlier this year, and 92 percent of the 563 agencies responded. March 1, 2018 RALEIGH — North Carolina has more than 15,000 untested sexual assault kits, a backlog that national advocacy group described as "significant." Attor...

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Former deputy pleads guilty to embezzlement

The key to the evidence room was in an unlocked desk drawer January 4, 2018 Former Davidson County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Eads has plead guilty and has been sentenced to 16 to 29 months in the North Carolina Department of Correction for multiple counts of embezzlement and illegally accessing a government computer on Thursday morning. During a hear...

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Police apologize for lost rape kits

Police reach out to survivors about discarded evidence January 1, 2018 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 w...

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Greenville police officer arrested after $60 stolen from car he searched (body cam)

November 21, 2017 GREENVIILLE, NC – A Greenville police officer was arrested Tuesday afternoon after $60 was stolen from a car he searched. Officer Alec Smith, 23, was charged with misdemeanor larceny. Greenville police officers were called to the Rodeway Inn on Greenville Boulevard on November 5 to investigate potential drug activity. Officers rec...

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Reality Check: How Asheville Police Department solved their evidence room issues

Resolving the issue has spanned three different police chiefs. However, Chief Tammy Hooper reports the evidence room is cleaned up and fully inventoried. November 29, 2017 ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The criminal justice system relies on evidence, yet Asheville Police Department's (APD) own evidence room was once investigated for a crime. Resolving th...

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Former NC sheriff’s captain accused of taking cash from evidence safe

The arrest is a result of a State Bureau of Investigation probe into evidence that was missing from the Columbus County Sheriff's Office June 9, 2017 WHITEVILLE, N.C. (WECT) — A former captain with the Columbus County Sheriff's Office has been accused of stealing money from the evidence safe at the Columbus County Sheriff's Office. David Gerald Nob...

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Former Iredell deputy sentenced to probation in evidence theft case

Instead of leaving the pistols in the sheriff's office evidence room, he signed them in and took them for himself, May 24, 2017 he former Iredell deputy charged with taking two pistols he seized during an investigation pleaded no-contest Wednesday to larceny and obstruction of justice. A Superior Court judge sentenced Thomas Lane "Tommy" Adams to 2...

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CMPD’s Lost and Found: a ham and a tombstone


Shotguns, bikes, drugs, a ham and a coffin: just a few of the items at CMPD's Property Control Room when this story was written in 1982. The department was responsible for the safekeeping of evidence, lost items and recovered stolen things. April 21, 2017 By John Monk, Observer Staff Writer This is where Charlotte's lost things wind ...

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police to eliminate backlog of untested rape kits by summer


Like most police agencies across the country, the department found itself with a large backlog of untested kits, "as best practices and the department's policies for testing sexual assault evidence evolved," the city of Charlotte said this week in announcing the planned near-elimination of backlogged kits. February 14, 2017 The Charlotte-Mecklenbur...

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Medford evidence mystery lingers

The Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina), Main Edition, NEWS; Pg. B1BYLINE: JOHN BOYLEBuncombe County, NCPersistent, pesky readers are some of my favorites.Sure, they sometimes drive me nuts, but they also keep me on my t...

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1 Arrested In Fire At WNC Sheriff's Office

foxcarolina.comBYLINE: FOX Carolina StaffLink to ArticleGraham County, NCFire Destroyed Evidence RoomInvestigators study the scene of a fire that gutted the investigative room of the Graham County Sheriff's Department on Mond...

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NC law mandating DNA from suspects hailed as crime-fighting tool

citizen-times.comBYLINE: Clarke MorrisonAsheville, NCASHEVILLE — A new state law requiring that police take DNA samples from people charged in violent or sex crimes could solve 100 cases statewide in the first year alone.And ...

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DNA collection from suspects could increase

The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)BYLINE: THOMASI MCDONALD AND RUTH SHEEHAN; Staff WritersRaleigh, NCNearly irrefutable, DNA evidence is becoming the weapon of choice in North Carolina's war against crime.In 2007, ...

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Former APD evidence room manager pleads guilty to embezzling drugs

Mountain Xpress, mountainx.comBYLINE: David ForbesAsheville, NCWilliam Lee Smith, the former evidence room manager, showing citizens around the room in 2009.Former Asheville Police Department evidence room manager William Lee...

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More evidence-room documents released by sheriffs


Carolina Public Press, carolinapublicpress.orgBYLINE: Jon Elliston, , Haywood, McDowell and Polk County’s, NC‘Unannounced’ inspections in Haywood uncover discrepancies, missing itemsIn th...

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Investigation under way after evidence tampering reported at police department

Team 5 Investigates, WCVB-TV, wcvb.comBYLINE: Kathy CurranAshland, NCProbe continues into Ashland Police Department, former chiefASHLAND, Mass. — Team 5 Investigates has uncovered new allegations of evidence tampering and mis...

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Evidence handling focus of Asheville rape trial


The Citizen Times, citizen-times.comBYLINE: Clarke MorrisonAsheville, NCAndrew Davis listens while seated beside public defender, LeAnn Melton, during his trial in Buncombe County Superior Court Wednesday. Davis is charged wi...

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Unanswered questions about APD evidence room mess


MountainXpress, mountainx.comBYLINE: David ForbesLink to ArticleAsheville, NCAn image of the lack of order in the APD evidence room found by auditor Mike Wright. Photos by Max Cooper“I'm not going to talk about that,” Ashevil...

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Asheville police evidence room remains a mess

North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, nclawyersweekly.comBYLINE: The Associated PressLink to ArticleAsheville, NCASHEVILLE (AP) — Asheville police are still trying to sort through problems in the department’s evidence room.The agenc...

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Former Greenville Police Chief Dealing With Major Evidence Room Mess In Asheville

Gray Television, Inc., WITN, witn.comLink to ArticleAug 06, 2012Former Greenville Police Chief Dealing With Major Evidence Room Mess In AshevilleAsheville, NCAsheville police are still trying to sort through problems in the d...

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Officer accused in drug theft makes court appearance

Freedom Communications, Inc., The Daily News, jdnews.comLink to ArticleNew Bern, NCNew Bern police Officer Frances Sutton appeared in Craven County District Court Thursday morning in connection with the theft of the prescript...

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SBI investigates missing evidence

The Robesonian, robesonian.comBYLINE: Matt ElofsonLink to ArticleRed Springs, NCRED SPRINGS - The State Bureau of Investigation is trying to determine how evidence in two separate cases disappeared from the Red Springs Police...

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Asheville police audit room inventory completed

www.citizen-times.com, citizen-times.comBYLINE: Romando DixsonLink to ArticleAsheville, NCDistrict attorney to get report soonASHEVILLE — Blueline Systems & Services exhausted nearly all money budgeted for an audit of the Pol...

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Asheville police evidence room audit nearing end

CITIZEN-TIMES.COM, citizen-times.comBYLINE: Romando DixsonAsheville, NCCompany has billed city about $130KASHEVILLE — A Police Department evidence room audit has cost the city about $130,000, keeping the project under budget ...

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Asheville police evidence room audit nearing end

CITIZEN-TIMES.COM, citizen-times.comBYLINE: Romando DixsonAsheville, NCCompany has billed city about $130KASHEVILLE — A Police Department evidence room audit has cost the city about $130,000, keeping the project under budget ...

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Salisbury Police evidence custodian fired

Post Publishing Company, Inc., salisburypost.com/BYLINE: Nathan Hardin, to ArticleSalisbury, NCSALISBURY — A Salisbury Police Department evidence custodian has been fired after an investigation “...

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Davie deputy gets 18 months in drug case

Winston-Salem Journal, journalnow.comBYLINE: Michael HewlettDavie County, NCGREENSBORO A former Davie County sheriff’s deputy was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison on drug charges.Bobby Lee Mabe Jr. pleaded guilt...

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Chief: Explosive Device Was Not A Risk To Randleman Dam

2011-03-18_INT_Chief Explosive Device Was Not A Risk_02

WFMY NEWS2, digtriad.comBYLINE: Nick Needhamhttp://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article/166892/57/Chief-Explosive-Device-Was-Not-A-Risk-To-Randleman-Dam-Link to ArticleGreensboro, NCGreensboro, NC -- An improvised explosive de...

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Book'em, swab'em: Officers begin collecting DNA samples upon arrest

The Star, shelbystar.comBYLINE: Rebecca Clark, to ArticleShelby, NCA Shelby police officer holds a swab from a DNA testing kit. A new law will require DNA samples of people who commit certain c...

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Wilmington police technicians bring order to property and evidence warehouse

StarNewsOnline.comBYLINE: Brian Freskos, to ArticleWilmington, NCPhylisha DellaPia shows some of the steps that have to be taken when rpocessing evidence at the Wilmington Police Departmen...

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APD Chief: Incident Of Missing Evidence Is Heartbreaking

WPAS News Channel 7, wspa.comBYLINE: Rich Klindworth , WSPA StaffAsheville, NCMissing evidence has led to an audit of the room and the 90,000 pieces of evidence insideASHEVILLE, N.C. -- More than 2,000 pending felony cases ma...

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SBI seals APD evidence room, investigating missing drugs

MOUNTAIN Xpress, mountainx.comBYLINE: David ForbesLink to ArticleAsheville, NC***UPDATED 2:13 p.m. Thursday***The State Bureau of Investigation has sealed, and is investigating, the Police Department property room due to 397 ...

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Guns, other evidence missing, sample audit says

The Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina)BYLINE: Joel BurgessAsheville, NCPolice have lost track of at least 27 guns seized as evidence, along with dozens of packages of cash and drugs, according to audit findings released...

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DA slams APD evidence conduct

The Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina)BYLINE: By, Clarke MorrisonBuncombe County, NCThe Police Department waited five weeks before acknowledging it could not account for more than 100 items taken as evidence, Buncombe C...

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Hogan cautions police in email

The Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina)BYLINE: By, Jon OstendorffAsheville, NCOutgoing Police Chief Bill Hogan, in a memo to staff announcing he would retire, cautioned that coming months would be crucial for the departm...

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We need independent agency to guard evidence

The Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina), SECTION: OPINIONBYLINE: By, Bruce Clyne, AshevilleBuncombe County, NCThe citizens of Buncombe County are sick and tired of "evidence room" debacles that let criminals go back on t...

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Asheville police evidence audits skimpy, suspect

Citizen-Times, citizen-times.comBYLINE: Joel Burgessand & Jon OstendorffAsheville, NCExpert: Complete inventories neededASHEVILLE — In more than a dozen inspections done before 2011, Asheville police gave their own evidence r...

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Former evidence technician for Davie sheriff's office sentenced on drug-distribution charge

Winston-Salem Journal, journalnow.comBYLINE: MICHAEL HEWLETT | Winston-Salem Journal, to ArticleDavie County, NCMALINDA YORK Credit: YorkA former evidence technician for the Davie County Sheriff's O...

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Wake sheriff's investigator accused of embezzlement

The News & Observer Publishing Company, newsobserver.comBLINE: Thomasi McDonald - Staff writer Link to ArticleWake County, NCRALEIGH -- The State Bureau of Investigation arrested a Wake County sheriff's investigator in early ...

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Police employee on leave after 'cash accounting irregularities’ found in evidence room

Post Publishing Company, Inc., The Salisbury Evening Post, salisburypost.comLink to ArticleSalisbury, NCSALISBURY — The Salisbury Police Department has placed its evidence and property custodian on paid administrative leave a...

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APD evidence room inventory to begin

The Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina)BYLINE: Clarke MorrisonAsheville, NCA team of former officers led by a retired crime scene analyst is expected to begin the painstaking process this week of inspecting, cataloging a...

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Former Randleman Police employee indicted for larceny

FOX8 WGHP, myfox8.comRandleman, NCSharon Ledbetter HardisonRANDLEMAN, N.C. – A Randolph County Grand Jury has returned a True Bill of Indictment for larceny by an employee on a former Randleman Police Department employee, Sha...

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