MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Activists say more must be done to reduce the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s backlog of sexual assault kits.
Monday marked the beginning of the trial for Cleotha Abston, the man accused of murdering Eliza Fletcher. However, this trial involves the 2021 charges of aggravated rape and kidnapping of Alicia Franklin, whose rape kit test took nearly a year to process and was released the same day authorities discovered Fletcher’s body.
The case is one of many reasons local activists are speaking up.
“We've got to make the state understand that this part of the state needs and must have a lab that can speed the DNA testing,” said Deborah Clubb, executive director for the Memphis Area Women’s Council.
As of August 2023, the TBI said it was down to 477 untested kits. According to its latest data, the TBI shows 394 pending requests for cases involving sexual assault cases as of March 29th, 2024.
“It's really impressive what TBI has managed to do,” Clubb said.
TBI data shows the average time to process these tests at the state lab in Jackson has gone down as well, From less than 18 weeks in August 2023, to less than 12 weeks as of March 2024.
“I think it's still true though that this county needs its own scientists on hand, on deck because we've got so many cases at any one time,” Clubb said.
Memphis having its own crime lab is a cause Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy continues to be vocal about.
“I think the time is right to get serious about this,” Mulroy said in January. “Shelby County has the worst crime problem in the state. It deserves the best crime lab.”
There is a bill before the Tennessee State Legislature for a feasibility study examining the crime lab and its impact on public health, safety, education and other factors. It is on the calendar for the house’s criminal justice committee on Tuesday.
“We risk lives. We risk safety every day,” Clubb said. “So, the effort to get a crime lab in Memphis is urgent.”