Related links
DALLAS, TX -
Cindy Herb remembers every moment of the attack that changed her life. "He grabbed me and put his hand over my mouth and I started screaming", says the Desoto resident. Herb and her sister were delivering papers in Dallas, more than 40 years ago, when a man dragged her away and raped her.
Herb, 52, endured an invasive pelvic exam, where she says evidence was collected in a rape kit. She says her parents refused to allow police to investigate. "I was told not to about it and so were my family members. I wondered if he was out there doing it to someone else".
As in Herb's case, evidence from thousands of rapes in Dallas has never made it to a lab for DNA testing, which could identify sexual offenders. Officials estimate there are close to 10,000 untested rape kits, dating back decades.
Police officials say the task seems overwhelming and very expensive to remedy. Sgt. Patrick Walsh, who heads up the cold case rape unit says it is a priority to test kits from unsolved, stranger on stranger rapes, first. But, at $1,000 for each test, even that will cost millions. "I understand the importance of DNA testing, but sometimes the funding has to be considered in what we will analyze", says Welsh.
Police say city funds aren't there to speed up the testing. Authorities are applying for federal grants to pay for more testing, but that won't close the backlog completely. Other departments across the country are experiencing similar backlogs. Los Angeles police have about 14,000 untested kits.
Herb has written a book about her recovery and healing. She says she doesn't need to know her rapist's name to heal, but she realizes others do need to know for closure from a brutal crime. "It is truly traumatic. It goes down to the soul and it tears at you", says Herb.
More information: Cherb Chronicles
Herb, 52, endured an invasive pelvic exam, where she says evidence was collected in a rape kit. She says her parents refused to allow police to investigate. "I was told not to about it and so were my family members. I wondered if he was out there doing it to someone else".
As in Herb's case, evidence from thousands of rapes in Dallas has never made it to a lab for DNA testing, which could identify sexual offenders. Officials estimate there are close to 10,000 untested rape kits, dating back decades.
Police officials say the task seems overwhelming and very expensive to remedy. Sgt. Patrick Walsh, who heads up the cold case rape unit says it is a priority to test kits from unsolved, stranger on stranger rapes, first. But, at $1,000 for each test, even that will cost millions. "I understand the importance of DNA testing, but sometimes the funding has to be considered in what we will analyze", says Welsh.
Police say city funds aren't there to speed up the testing. Authorities are applying for federal grants to pay for more testing, but that won't close the backlog completely. Other departments across the country are experiencing similar backlogs. Los Angeles police have about 14,000 untested kits.
Herb has written a book about her recovery and healing. She says she doesn't need to know her rapist's name to heal, but she realizes others do need to know for closure from a brutal crime. "It is truly traumatic. It goes down to the soul and it tears at you", says Herb.
More information: Cherb Chronicles
