Date of Submission

5-1-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Advisor

Heather G. Coyle

Keywords

DNA analysis, DNA database, Mexico, sex assault cases, homicide

LCSH

sexual assault--law and legislation, sexual assault, DNA--analysis, databases,

Abstract

Sexual assault cases are a continuing heinous crime that is prominent in all parts of the world. In some cases, sexual assault can go as far as murder. Luckily in the United States, sex assault murder cases are not as common as they are in other places. Some places in the world, such as the neighboring country to the United States, Mexico, have witnessed sexual assault murder cases to an intensity where it is known as femicide. In the Mexican city of Ciudad Juárez, the female population has been targeted for over three decades as victims of sexual assault murders. There are hundreds of unidentified bodies of women and girls in Ciudad Juárez that families are desperately trying to claim as their own and to find the killers. Identifying both the victims and the killers has been at the bottom of the Mexican government's to-do list, which can be seen due to the lack of DNA evidence recovered and the lack of criminal investigation performed. The minuscule DNA and evidence that was collected at crime scenes and from the victims' bodies are hoped to be enough to identify any of the parties involved.

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