NBC4 Investigates Uncovers DNA Testing Delay

COLUMBUS, Ohio - DNA is critical in the race to catch a rapist, and Ohio's crime lab can make the match in just one day.

But NBC4 Investigates uncovered a critical DNA delay.

"When you're dealing with a rapist who will rape again and again and again, the faster you can get him off the street, the better," said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.

Rape kits are sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation lab in London, Ohio.

From victims around the state, the DNA is analyzed and checked against every known criminal. But historically, the bureau has been bogged down by backlogs.

"The day I took office, the average time to get evidence back for DNA was 125 days," DeWine said.

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DeWine oversees the lab, and said that a delay of 125 days is "almost criminal."

He reduced that four-month turnaround time to a little more than three weeks. But DeWine admits that there are many cases that deserve an even quicker response.

"Everybody wants to have a shorter turnaround time, and we make it very clear to these departments, we can do it in 24 hours. You need to tell us about that," he said.

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NBC4 Investigates Uncovers DNA Testing Delay