Serial rapist id'd when all rape kits tested

[almagata]

We have talked over the years about the backlog of rape kits all over the country and how law enforcement does not see testing these kits as a priority or how the agencies don't have the funding to process the backlog of kits for DNA.

This article talks about how a serial rapist was identified when Pima County Arizona tested all their rape kits.  Who knows how many other rapes this man is responsible for through out the country.  He traveled and was a conman using many aliases. 

abcnews.go.com/Technology/serial-rapist-nathan-loebe-convicted-pima-county-arizona/story?id=61355155

Serial rapist Nathan Loebe convicted in Pima County, Arizona, after testing of rape kit backlog
Nathan Loebe raped seven women over a 12-year period.

By Alexandra Svokos

Mar 2, 2019 4:56 AM ET

A Tucson man was convicted of raping seven women over a 12-year period after police received a grant to test rape kits and changed a "mindset" over which kits get tested.

"The old view was if you have a situation where the victim reported it was without consent but the defendant or suspect reported that it was with consent and there was nothing to corroborate either way, there was the idea that maybe it wasn't worth testing the sexual assault kit because it doesn't show consent versus lack of consent," Nicol Green, deputy attorney for Pima County, told ABC News.

Green, along with deputy attorney Tracy Miller, prosecuted the case against Nathan Loebe, who was found guilty on 12 counts of sexual assault, five counts of kidnapping, three counts of stalking and one count of attempted sexual assault, according to the Associated Press, for cases that occurred between 2003 and 2015.

The recognition that this is a way to identify serial rapists kind of took hold.

"Victims reported that they met a man in a bar or through an online dating site. He provided false names and lied about who he was," Pima County Attorney's Office wrote on Facebook. "Most of the victims reported that they had drinks with the man, and then they either lost consciousness or became incapacitated. The man then sexually assaulted them."

Loebe had previously been a suspect in sexual assault cases, according to the Arizona Daily Star, but claimed sexual activity had occurred with consent.

It wasn't until law enforcement started following the "forklift approach" of testing every rape kit regardless of investigation details that they were able to build a case against Loebe.

"Quite frankly it was a mindset in law enforcement and prosecution in terms of the decision to test a particular sexual assault case looking at that case specifically rather than the big picture," Green said. "As is often the case in law enforcement, as time goes on, ideas and priorities shift, and the recognition that this is a way to identify serial rapists kind of took hold."

Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall began prioritizing the testing of rape kits in 2014, Green said, and the attorney's office worked with Tucson Police to get ahead of a growing backlog.

In 2015, the Tucson Police Department received a $1 million grant from the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York, which funded a project to support the testing of rape kit backlogs from settlements with international banks that violated U.S. sanctions.

That grant funded the testing of about 1,450 cases, according to Green, as well as a dedicated detective at Tucson Police and a victim advocate who worked out of the attorney's office. Additional state funding is accounting for remaining kits' testing -- approximately 500 -- so essentially all kits from the backlog are either already tested or in the process of being tested.

Rape kits collect evidence from a victim's body and clothing after an assault, including potential DNA evidence. When DNA evidence is found, it is entered into the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, to see if there is a match to a person with a past offense and to identify serial offenders.

They got justice that was long, long overdue, and as a prosecutor, that feels really, really good.

Of those 1,450 kits funded by the grant, 839 DNA profiles have been entered into CODIS, Green said, and there have been 364 hits to people who have been convicted or arrested for certain felonies.

"It's grueling," Dallas Wilson, the detective who has been working on these cases at Tucson Police, told ABC News. "We have approximately 400 cases that need to be re-investigated that go back from 1988 to 2016."

There is no statute of limitations for sexual assault in Arizona, and Wilson says these cases are "completely different than any other investigation" as law enforcement is reopening investigations from the start, which is "like opening up a wound all over again" for many victims.

Loebe's DNA was in the system from prior convictions, and "his DNA profile came up within the first month of [grant] testing on more than one kit," Green said.

Tuscon police started searching for him in January 2017, and Loebe was arrested in Kentucky in connection with an alleged sexual assault a month later. As part of his assaults, Loebe allegedly impersonated former child star Brian Bonsall from the '80s sitcom "Family Ties," Bardstown Police said at the time.

Loebe, who was also wanted in Colorado, Massachusetts and Ohio, was extradited to Tucson, Tucson News Now reported in August 2017, adding that the Kentucky charges were dropped.

Nine women testified against Loebe in trial, said Green, who praised "their strength and bravery" and added that "they got justice that was long, long overdue, and as a prosecutor, that feels really, really good."

Five years after starting work on Pima County's rape kit backlog, Green said it's "fabulous" to see a result like this.

"It's a good feeling," Wilson said. "We still have a lot more work to do, though."

Loebe is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on April 22.

Attachments:

[cherylh]

That's pretty amazing. When they tested all the rape kits -- they realized they had a serial rapist on their hands.

Yet another reason to try to get more rape kits tested.

[albion]

Mar 7, 2019 18:06:27 GMT almagata said:

"Quite frankly it was a mindset in law enforcement and prosecution in terms of the decision to test a particular sexual assault case looking at that case specifically rather than the big picture," Green said. "As is often the case in law enforcement, as time goes on, ideas and priorities shift, and the recognition that this is a way to identify serial rapists kind of took hold."

This quote seems to explain a great deal of what is wrong with LE investigations. Definitely contradicts the "we are doing all we can do" argument. LE latched on to the use of fingerprints much quicker. But that probably has something to do with the types of crimes being investigated.

[almagata]

Mar 8, 2019 1:01:09 GMT albion said:

Mar 7, 2019 18:06:27 GMT almagata said:

"Quite frankly it was a mindset in law enforcement and prosecution in terms of the decision to test a particular sexual assault case looking at that case specifically rather than the big picture," Green said. "As is often the case in law enforcement, as time goes on, ideas and priorities shift, and the recognition that this is a way to identify serial rapists kind of took hold."

This quote seems to explain a great deal of what is wrong with LE investigations. Definitely contradicts the "we are doing all we can do" argument. LE latched on to the use of fingerprints much quicker. But that probably has something to do with the types of crimes being investigated.

I went on a ride along a few years ago with our local sheriff's department.  I asked the deputy that I was riding with what crimes he disliked responding too the most.  He said "sexual assault calls."  I asked why and he said something along the line of "so many of the victims lie."

You can kind of get that same feel from the article.  Where they talk about consensual vs. non-consensual and that being a factor in the decision to pursue sexual assault investigations. 

[ralphman]

Mar 8, 2019 6:00:56 GMT almagata said:

Mar 8, 2019 1:01:09 GMT albion said:

This quote seems to explain a great deal of what is wrong with LE investigations. Definitely contradicts the "we are doing all we can do" argument. LE latched on to the use of fingerprints much quicker. But that probably has something to do with the types of crimes being investigated.

I went on a ride along a few years ago with our local sheriff's department.  I asked the deputy that I was riding with what crimes he disliked responding too the most.  He said "sexual assault calls."  I asked why and he said something along the line of "so many of the victims lie."

You can kind of get that same feel from the article.  Where they talk about consensual vs. non-consensual and that being a factor in the decision to pursue sexual assault investigations. 

hi can normal people like me request to go on a ride along with an officer?? that sounds like something I would like to do

[almagata]

Mar 8, 2019 11:55:09 GMT ralphman said:

Mar 8, 2019 6:00:56 GMT almagata said:

I went on a ride along a few years ago with our local sheriff's department.  I asked the deputy that I was riding with what crimes he disliked responding too the most.  He said "sexual assault calls."  I asked why and he said something along the line of "so many of the victims lie."

You can kind of get that same feel from the article.  Where they talk about consensual vs. non-consensual and that being a factor in the decision to pursue sexual assault investigations. 

hi can normal people like me request to go on a ride along with an officer?? that sounds like something I would like to do

Check with your local law enforcement agency.  Most have ride along programs that you can sign up for. 

[(AQ)]

Mar 8, 2019 22:23:00 GMT @thedog said:

Mar 8, 2019 6:00:56 GMT almagata said:

I went on a ride along a few years ago with our local sheriff's department.  I asked the deputy that I was riding with what crimes he disliked responding too the most.  He said "sexual assault calls."  I asked why and he said something along the line of "so many of the victims lie."

The calls I always hated the most, and the calls I think most sane patrol officers hate the most, by far, are domestic violence calls. They're messy, annoying, very common, and happen several times each shift. There's always very high emotions, they're very dangerous for that reason, and the call is pretty much you getting involved in other people's drama. Somebody almost always ends up going to jail thanks to PC 273.5, which mandates arrests in a lot of cases even when the victim doesn't want to press, then YOU become the bad guy that's tearing up a couple and the victim and suspect both turn on you.

Then, the next week you're getting called back to their house again to arrest the guy for violating his protective order that he got from the first call, even though she invited him back because she's in love and convinced he's changed and will never abuse her again, then everyone's once again mad at YOU for making the mandated arrests that you're required to. Then you show up to testify at the trial, and the victim doesn't show up to testify because she's in love and it was a giant mistake, so then it gets continued to another date (when you were originally probably scheduled off). When they finally do drag the victim in, she recants, says that the whole thing is a giant misunderstanding, you don't know what you're talking about, ect. All the while you literally do not care at all about their drama you just want the thing to end.

Then you see them leaving court in the same car together, holding hands and kissing, even though you know there's still a protective order, but you turn and pretend like you don't see them because you don't want to deal with them again.

Any patrol officer who tells you domestic violence calls aren't the absolute worst is certifiably weird.

That sounds horrible, no win situation many times over; no sense of serving, protecting or helping in any sense.   But then, not, ALL DV calls follow this routine, some are definitely legit and certifiable persons in need of help--- those have to feel good, or so I would think ?

[(AQ)]

Mar 8, 2019 11:55:09 GMT ralphman said:

Mar 8, 2019 6:00:56 GMT almagata said:

I went on a ride along a few years ago with our local sheriff's department.  I asked the deputy that I was riding with what crimes he disliked responding too the most.  He said "sexual assault calls."  I asked why and he said something along the line of "so many of the victims lie."

You can kind of get that same feel from the article.  Where they talk about consensual vs. non-consensual and that being a factor in the decision to pursue sexual assault investigations. 

hi can normal people like me request to go on a ride along with an officer?? that sounds like something I would like to do

  Ralphman, 

You'd have to check with your local authorities, but I believe many do offer ride alongs.  Could be local or sheriff.  Check it out with each.
Think I've even seen, tho rarely, that CHP offers, also

[(AQ)]

Almagata,

Great article, thanks for posting it and bringing out some of what goes on (well, the articles did) in the handling of cases.
There is definitely alot that could be reviewed and modified re handling of cases, of all types, but without a management team willing to look at changes beyond technology I don't see much getting done
especially in this day when police, generally, are feeling attacked. If all could remain focused on the goal- arresting the suspects, and looking at the development of crime techniques and function, some new
ground might again, be broke.

---
Just this past week I saw an article, out of Georgia that the police have come out stating citizens need to be more careful as a serial rapist is on the loose. Statement was coming out today after they re-examined
8-12 (dont remember) cases from 2015-2017. That's a helluva long time to go not realizing a serial rapist was operating. I wonder how many more cases from 2017 to present fall into his MO.

Guess I was really creeped out that the statement is out today for something that is years old.

Here is one link, not the one I saw the other day. When I googled just now, there are many links re this case. Apparently, they have tied this current suspect to 7 rapes from 2015. This wasn't clear in the article I had read earlier.
Still. Creepy.

www.fox5atlanta.com/news/serial-rapist-now-tied-to-seven-attacks-in-clayton-county

[cherylh]

It's weirdly similar to what lifeguards have to endure when saving people's lives. A large percentage of people that need to be rescued from drowning insist that they don't need to be rescued. Sometimes, even as they're dying, they try to fight off the lifeguard. Or, they panic so much they try to climb on top of the lifeguard, risking both their lives.

Lifeguards are trained to deal with all that. But they certainly don't enjoy it.

Lifeguards are still valuable and necessary.

[albion]

Mar 8, 2019 6:00:56 GMT almagata said:

Mar 8, 2019 1:01:09 GMT albion said:

This quote seems to explain a great deal of what is wrong with LE investigations. Definitely contradicts the "we are doing all we can do" argument. LE latched on to the use of fingerprints much quicker. But that probably has something to do with the types of crimes being investigated.

I went on a ride along a few years ago with our local sheriff's department.  I asked the deputy that I was riding with what crimes he disliked responding too the most.  He said "sexual assault calls."  I asked why and he said something along the line of "so many of the victims lie."

You can kind of get that same feel from the article.  Where they talk about consensual vs. non-consensual and that being a factor in the decision to pursue sexual assault investigations. 

There are some things I that may fall under the officers' discretion as far as pursuing investigations. Maybe a warning ticket by a patrol officer instead of speeding ticket or something similar. Or possibly an isolated incident between a couple in which no one was hurt. But not accusations of rape. The effects of a rape on the victim and their loved ones last a lifetime. And if LE is perceived as not caring enough to follow through, then these effects are increased. Also the rape kits dont make themselves. The victims go through with the examination in the belief that it will lead to an arrest. And the kits cost the departments money to create and maintain as evidence. I also think that if a person can commit one rape, that he could commit more.  If LE tested these kits as they got them it is possible that many of these rapists would have been caught much, much sooner. On a purely monetary level, wouldnt that pay for the cost of the tests? Fewer victims, fewer

investigations. I also believe that if a person can commit rape, that are very likely to commit other crimes of violence.

As an example, Houston police took 16 years, I believe to test a rape kit. When they finally did test it, it came back as a match for the murderer of Andrew Atkinson and Cheryl Henry. The fact that it was a rape, meant that it also brought a description and other clues to the murder investigation.

And I have a hard time with the idea that some rape victims may lie about the rape. I tend to think that some burglary victims may lie about their case as well. Some people might burn their businesses or apt buildings for the insurance. Some gay actors may lie about their attacks as well. People lie about car accidents and flood damage and almost anything you can think of. Imagine if LE decided to not prosecute drug dealers or politicians because they lie too much or too well? But LE draws the line with rape victims and says they lie too much?

It reminds me of that old joke of the two New Yorkers who run into eachother in the street and the one says, "I heard about your building burning down last Tuesday." And the other says, "Shut up, that isnt til next Tuesday." That joke was told to me by an old school fireman from Brooklyn. Amazing that the best way to get a building burned down in the 1970's was by a fireman.

[elroacho]

As an example, Houston police took 16 years, I believe to test a rape kit. When they finally did test it, it came back as a match for the murderer of Andrew Atkinson and Cheryl Henry. The fact that it was a rape, meant that it also brought a description and other clues to the murder investigation.

Here's the latest write up on the Lovers Lane murders.

1990 cold case: Who killed Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson on Lovers Lane in west Houston?

Quite a few newspaper articles over the years with threads on Reddit and Websleuths, just Google if interested.

My theory is she was killed by a jealous classmate from high school or a coworker.

[Jay7777]

Aug 26, 2023 10:22:35 GMT elroacho said:

As an example, Houston police took 16 years, I believe to test a rape kit. When they finally did test it, it came back as a match for the murderer of Andrew Atkinson and Cheryl Henry. The fact that it was a rape, meant that it also brought a description and other clues to the murder investigation.

Here's the latest write up on the Lovers Lane murders.

1990 cold case: Who killed Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson on Lovers Lane in west Houston?

Quite a few newspaper articles over the years with threads on Reddit and Websleuths, just Google if interested.

My theory is she was killed by a jealous classmate from high school or a coworker.

Any updates on this case yet? Why haven’t they haven’t they use Genetic Genealogy on this case???

They should find the guy right away!

[Jay7777]

I think: 1990 and Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson crimes deserve their own folder. I can't believe this hasn't been solved yet!

[andrew]

he got 274 years in prison