The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office says a recent acquittal in a 1993 rape case illustrates some of the challenges authorities face while pursuing more cases based on testing of DNA from old rape kits.
Cleveland police have sent state labs 4,000 rape kits for testing, and suburbs have added more. The trial was the first based on DNA from a kit that had not been tested in nearly 20 years. The alleged victim testified, and evidence showed the defendant's DNA was found inside the woman. But that didn't necessarily prove there was a crime. Prosecutors say they are limited by whatever evidence is available but may tweak how they approach similar cases in the future.