Quote:1. That's probably an error in their judgement, but it doesn't mean they're responsible for all of this.

 

2. You're probably more familiar with this than I am, but how do you know that to be true? How many witnesses were there? If there were no witnesses, how can you blame them for that? Witness testimony wouldn't be sufficient to close this case. They would wait until this DNA testing returned before it was ever officially closed.

 

3. Did she tell them she was leaving? The State doesn't know when everyone moves. Besides, I'm sure they're working on more cases; how would a follow-up change anything?

 

I'm not ready to hang the man out to dry, but it seems like you're trying to deflect blame.

 

Once an accusation of a possible crime has been made, the police department has the full responsibility for managing, and conducting a full thorough investigation.

 

The fact that there was a gap in DNA testing between the victim and Winston, shows that TPD did not manage proper oversight of the investigation regardless if the victim was cooperating or not. If there was not enough evidence to request a search warrant to submit DNA, why couldn't TPD just simply request Winston voluntarily submit a sample? Also, the status of this investigation changed from open inactive to open active demonstrated that TPD only took the accusation seriously once it became public.

 

IMO TPD did an injustice to BOTH the victim for causing pain and suffering by letting this linger and causing her to relocate, and to Winston by not having a conclusion to this case already. There have been sexual assault cases come before police departments before and have been handled more professionally. The damage is already done.

 

 

As a FSU alum and fan who proudly supports his alma-mater,Im not trying to hang anyone out to dry, nor deflect blame. No one here can do that, plus the only people who knew whether it was consensual or forced was the victim and Winston.

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