I came across your article and found your analysis really interesting. The case you referenced from the New York Times is that of Natasha Alexenko, whose perpetrator Victor Rondon was finally caught 15 1/2 years after the crime was committed. Natasha went on to form a nonprofit organization called Natasha’s Justice Project that in addition to eliminating the backlog of untested rape kits, as was the case with hers, the organization seems to remove the statute of limitations on sexual assault.

Perhaps there was some science behind the statute but with today’s DNA evidence sitting on shelves collecting dust many rape kits are incinerated before they’re even tested for DNA because the statute has expired.

Thanks for writing about this particular case and getting the discussion going!

All the best,
Megan Heckman – Director of Operations, Natasha’s Justice Project