Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) GranteeCounty of Shelby (Tennessee)

In FY2023, SAKI awarded the County of Shelby $1.5 million to complete its investigation of its cases related to its sexual assault kit backlog, prioritize John and Jane Doe cases for identification through investigative genetic genealogy, communicate with the community about the project and sexual assault prevention, and maintain a victim-centered approach while evaluating process and outcomes of sexual assault investigations. The County of Shelby will maintain and add strategic personnel to assist with investigation, prosecution, and identification through investigative genetic genealogy. Additionally, the county will analyze metrics associated with investigation and prosecution, as well as examining outcomes associated with investigative genetic genealogy.

For more information on the specific SAKI award for this site, see the table below.

County of Shelby (Tennessee) Funding

Year	Amount	Purpose Area
FY2023	$1,500,000	Investigation and Prosecution of Cold Case Sexual Assaults

News and Events

Justice delayed 'but not denied' | Man convicted in 35-year-old rape in Memphis
— Kim Chaney, Localmemphis.com, Feb 6, 2024
"The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that a man has been convicted in a rape 35 years ago. D.A. Steve Mulroy said Tony Stafford was found guilty of the rape of an 18-year-old woman in 1988. He will be sentenced March 7. The D.A. said at the time of the rape, no suspects were identified. Then in 2015, rape kit swabs and clothing were sent out for testing, and results came back in 2016. That was uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), and in 2018, Tony Stafford was identified as the suspect. The D.A. said Stafford had prior convictions for sex offenses in Washington County, Tennessee, and Utah."