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Investigation into destroyed DNA samples uncovers more problems with Seattle police evidence storage By Sara Jean Green, The Seattle Times
Published: December 23, 2020, 10:12am
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SEATTLE Plagued by a chronically full evidence warehouse that led to failed fire inspections, the Seattle Police Department wrongly destroyed more than 100 post-conviction DNA samples in 2018 as part of an effort to make space for incoming items of evidence, according to a recently released report detailing an audit by the Seattle Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Around the same time the DNA samples were destroyed, evidence from an unknown number of homicide investigations was also purged, according to the 19-page report.
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One of the 16 people arrested faces felony charges related to allegations of sex trafficking and promoting abuse of a minor. (Shutterstock)
BELLEVUE, WA An undercover operation in Bellevue last week led to the rescue of three young sex-trafficking victims and 16 arrests, the police department announced Tuesday. The arrests included 14 men booked on suspicion of patronizing a prostitute, another accused of illegal possession of a firearm and one woman accused of promoting prostitution. According to investigators, police also confiscated a loaded gun, drug paraphernalia and cash.
With help from the FBI and the King County Sheriff s Office, Bellevue police said the two-night sting was in response to increased sexual exploitation reports and escalating violence associated with the crimes.
That database led to matches in the 2002 murder case and the 2018 rape case.
Additional DNA testing was completed in summer 2020. The murder and the rape investigations were referred to our office on Dec. 18.
The 2002 murder was investigated by Federal Way Police and the 2018 rape was investigated by the King County Sheriff’s Office.
As noted in the public court documents, in both instances in this current case Mr. Taylor targeted vulnerable, middle-aged, small-in-stature women who were strangers and who lived and/or worked on the streets.
His arraignment on the murder charge and the rape charge is scheduled for 9 a.m. January 7 in the GA courtroom of the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.