Man Faces First-Degree Rape Charges 10 Years After Crime: Importance of Rape Kits Highlighted

The Tulsa County man who now faces first-degree rape charges, ten years after the crime, is in federal custody for other serious crimes. The victim came forward and got a sexual assault examination done, leading to the charges being filed earlier this month. The DNA evidence from the rape kit linked the suspect, Daishad Lucas, to the crime. This case highlights the importance of reporting crimes and getting a rape kit done for DNA evidence collection. The victim reported being picked up by Lucas in 2014, losing consciousness, and waking up to find her clothes disheveled. The case went cold in 2014 but was reopened this year when the rape kit was finally tested. Tulsa Police have spent $4 million in grant funding to test over 1,300 untested kits and plan to continue this work. Lucas is not seen as a threat to the public while the rape case is pending, as he is already in federal custody for other charges. Police urge victims to get a rape kit done at the time of the crime, even if they are not ready to press charges, as it can help identify and catch serial rapists.