Critical missteps in an investigation into an apparent murder-suicide in Garfield County has exposed a major backlog within Colorado's largest crime lab
DENVER — Critical missteps in an investigation into an apparent murder-suicide in Garfield County has exposed a major backlog within Colorado's largest crime lab.
“I think we got here with probably not growing as fast as we should. And at the same time, we have more pieces of evidence that are coming in,” Schaefer said.Denver7 Investigates discovered there is roughly a year delay to process firearm ballistic evidence. Fingerprint and DNA testing also have significant backlogs, leaving victims like Julie and Ali in the dark.They couldn't grieve because they didn’t have answers. And Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario said this was out of his control.
To manage the backlog, Schaefer said cases are processed based on need. That means cases with an unknown killer or with an upcoming court case are given higher priority. “If we would have known or had any indications that this was anything other than what it was first labeled — as a murder-suicide — then we would have moved it up quick,” he said.
Murder on County Road 243: Family questions investigation in Garfield County Retired Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock said the backlog is a result of an agency that is overworked and overburdened.“There was a period of time in Colorado where we would send a sexual assault investigation kit in and we would wait 18 months,” Spurlock said.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Chicago shooting: Man gunned down in East Garfield ParkA 40-year-old man was shot to death in East Garfield Park Friday night.
Weiterlesen »
Chicago shooting: Man shot to death while standing outside in East Garfield Park, police sayA shooting in Chicago left a man shot and killed in East Garfield Park in the 200 block of North St Louis Avenue, the police department said.
Weiterlesen »
Son Of Colorado Mass Shooting Victim Sues Gun-Maker RugerThe son of one of 10 people killed at a Colorado supermarket in 2021 is suing Sturm, Ruger & Co. over how it marketed the firearm used in the massacre.
Weiterlesen »
Colorado has taken steps to improve maternal care, but more work needed to advance health equityIn 2021, Colorado passed a law requiring the state’s Civil Rights Division to accept complaints about mistreatment in medical settings during pregnancy and the postpartum period, though it&8…
Weiterlesen »