DeAngelo Martin killed four women and raped two others over a 16-month span before he was captured. Only now, a year after Martin was sent to prison, is it clear that police failed repeatedly to follow up on leads or take investigative steps that may have averted the killing spree, despite receiving repeated warnings that Martin was a violent predator, an Associated Press investigation has found.
The AP found myriad failures. Here are some key takeaways from its investigation:
– Martin was first linked to sexual violence in 2012 through DNA evidence connected to a sexual assault that occurred eight years earlier. However, the case was closed after the victim was found to have died shortly after the crime.
– Martin’s first known murder victim was found in 2018, but police initially arrested the wrong man. It was only through DNA testing that Martin was linked to the murder.
– Despite having DNA evidence linking Martin to a crime, police did not seek a warrant to obtain his DNA to confirm the hit. This allowed Martin to have repeated contact with police officers without being identified as a murder suspect.
– Martin had multiple encounters with law enforcement agencies in the area, including being arrested for assault and violating probation, but none of these encounters were relayed to Detroit police.
– Police delayed seeking charges against Martin for a second assault until after the bodies of his third and fourth known victims were discovered.
– Family members of the victims are furious about the police failures and believe their loved ones would still be alive if proper action had been taken.
– Detroit police have acknowledged their mistakes and have made changes in how they handle crime victims and manage DNA leads.
The AP investigation highlights the failures of the police in addressing the threat posed by DeAngelo Martin and the devastating consequences of their inaction.
