Grady Memorial billing rape victims for free exams only latest problem
News of Grady Memorial Hospital improperly billing rape victims for free forensic exams is only the latest problem with its rape crisis services revealed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Grady operates the rape crisis center for Fulton County's nearly 1 million residents. In June, we showed how the hospital had been locking away evidence in as many as 1,500 rapes since 2000, even when victims requested these rape kits be shared with law enforcement. The DNA evidence could have alerted investigators to serial rapists, or identify attackers who were strangers to their victims. Instead, it went untested.
After the June AJC investigation, Grady and Fulton District Attorney Paul Howard announced that they are placing much of that evidence into law enforcement hands. But now, there's no money to test the kits.
About the Author
Willoughby Mariano is an investigative reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she focuses on housing and criminal justice issues. She previously worked for the AJC's PolitiFact Georgia, where she fact checked the claims of elected officials, and at the Orlando Sentinel, where she covered crime and breaking news.
