DA’s Office Prosecutes 35-Year-Old Sexual Assault Case
Shelby County, TN— Today, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office announced the resolution of a 35-year-old cold case involving a violent sexual assault. Tony Stafford has been found guilty for a rape that occurred in 1988, thanks to the efforts of prosecutors from the Special Victims Unit. The trial concluded last week with a guilty verdict from the jury.
At the time of the sexual assault, there were no identified suspects. In 2015, the victim's vaginal swabs and clothing were sent to Bode Technology for testing, with conclusive results obtained in 2016. Bode identified an unknown male profile in the clothes and swabs, which was subsequently uploaded into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). In 2018, CODIS hit a match to Tony Stafford, who had prior convictions for sex offenses in Washington County, TN, and Utah.
“This case exemplifies the need to test all sexual assault kits in a timely manner,” said Dru Carpenter who led the prosecution of Safford. “From swabs taken from an 18-year-old victim in 1988, the work of the Memphis Police Department’s DNA Unit, and members of the DA’s Office, a dangerous offender was held accountable for the heinous crime he perpetrated on a member of this community. Justice was delayed for thirty-five years but was not denied in this case.”
The significance of the case extends beyond the successful conviction. In the wake of technological advances since 1988, the accuracy of testing rape kits has dramatically improved. However, the backlog of kits has been a persistent challenge nationwide, including here in Shelby County. The case also underscores the need to test ALL rape kits---something that could be made possible by having a crime lab in Memphis, further enhancing the effectiveness of the process.
Presently, all rape kits and other forensic testing are sent to the TBI crime lab in Jackson, TN. Localizing these crucial procedures in Memphis would not only expedite testing but also strengthen the collaboration between law enforcement, forensic experts, and prosecutors.
“Given the volume and the demand we have in Shelby County, it makes sense to have a local crime lab,” said District Attorney Steve Mulroy. “And this lab could also offer services that are supplemental to the TBI Crime Lab in Jackson, including rapid DNA testing and cell phone digital forensics.”
While the backlog of rape kits is decreasing, prosecutors aim ensure low number and persist in testing older kits in hopes of seeing more cold cases prosecuted like the Stafford verdict.
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