Quote:1. ) By all accounts, the TPD did conduct an investigation as thorough as they were capable of conducting. It's your opinion that they haven't.  And its your opinion that they conducted an thorough investigation as well. That's the main purpose of a message board, to discuss opinions.  


 

2. ) A DNA sample was obtained on the date of the alleged rape. According to the police, the accuser stopped responding to their calls. If the police couldn't get in contact with the victim, then the TPD will move forward with cases that have victims that actually want to pursue it. There are a finite number of investigators at the TPD. They're only capable of a certain amount of work. Expecting them to be able to conduct a "full thorough investigation" implies that they have enough investigators to do it. Again, it dosent matter if the accuser stopped cooperating with investigators. TPD has a duty and responsibility to obtain a DNA sample within a reasonable amount of time from the alleged suspect whether through a search warrant, or voluntarily. (Excluding this case)Suppose the alleged suspect had an STD, do you think its the PD's responsibility to get a DNA test from him? Police Departments all over the country can efficiently delegate more investigators to certain departments within their training, or give them overtime. We see this happen with Natural Disasters, spike in Homicides, etc. 


 

I can't speak for Florida, but the State of Georgia's GBI is backed up on their DNA testing. For a case like this one, where the victim doesn't want to pursue, then it will take upwards of a year to get results back. Depending on the Department, the testing may have been stored into evidence and forgotten about. The length of time in this case is irrelevant because it supports the known facts surrounding it. ​See above for my statement regarding investigator reassignment.  The length of time in this case is relevant because again the TPD could have had this case either closed or farther along than where it currently is if they got a DNA swab from Winston right after this incident.


 

3. ) "Pain and suffering"? C'mon. If that isn't sensationalism, then I don't know what is. They didn't cause her to relocate. I'd love for you to explain this one. So if the victim did suffer some form of a sexual assault, the pain and suffering is considered "sensationalism"? If Winston is found to have NEVER even committed a sexual assault and he went through pain and suffering, that's considered "sensationalism" as well? 


 

Please explain how this could've been handled better. I understand that the police, or whichever investigating entity, is usually the one to suffer the brunt of the blame. The TPD supposedly has an e-mail saying that the victim didn't want to pursue anything. It is logistically impossible to conduct a full investigation on every crime. Imposssible. When the victim tells you to give it up or doesn't cooperate, then those cases are put aside. Ive already explained in my previous detailed response earlier in this thread, and explained it in your second question.  If it was logistically impossible to conduct a full investigation on every crime, then you would see every  violent crime triple statistically. Police Departments just dont say "Okay well the alleged victim dosent want to cooperate, we are busy investigating other crimes, we can put this crime aside". They have to investigate why the victim isnt cooperating, they have to find out if the victim is being threatened, coerced into saying she was lying, etc. 


 

Let's assume the TPD got Winston's DNA sample and arrested him knowing that the victim didn't want to prosecute. What would you say when Winston got before a judge with no victim present? No victim, no crime. With the example question you just provided,  a<b>t that point it dosent matter if the victim didnt want to go through with the trial. A good prosecution team can present their case without having the victim testify, although it would be a slam dunk for them if the victim did decide to take the stand. There could be plenty of reasons why she may not want to take the stand.  a rape kit was performed, and all medical personnel  involved has come to the conclusion a sexual assault has taken place could be suffice for any sexual assault case.</b>