WOOD RIVER, Ill. – A rape kit can only be collected at a hospital.
The victim's body is scraped for evidence from anywhere between two-and-a-half and four hours after the crime. Many rape victims say a rape kit is their only proof.
But for one young mother, that proof was put on a shelf for years.
“I had gotten up and my leg was hurting really bad,” said Stephanie Bade.
The details are still vivid in Bade’s mind. She remembers waking up and realizing something was very wrong.
“I was in severe pain and my clothes were inside out,” she said.
It was 2010 and Bade had been out celebrating her 28th birthday with friends. She was drinking and spent the night at a friend’s apartment. Her friend’s father also lived at the home.
“I knew he did something without my consent.”
Stephanie believed 42-year-old Randy Glover raped her while she was passed out on the living room couch.
“I knew I had to go to the hospital and get a rape kit,” said Bade.
Bade did get a rape kit at a local hospital. The sexual assault nurse examiner found the results of Bade’s physical was consistent with her story. The kid included samples from Stephanie for DNA testing.
Rape kits are supposed to be sent to the Illinois State Police crime lab. According to the Asst. Director of the Illinois State Police crime lab, Brenda Danosky, it’s the responsibility of law enforcement to send in the rape kit.
In fact, former Governor Pat Quinn, signed a law in 2010 requiring law enforcement to turn over any and all rape kit evidence to the state lab for testing.
In this case, it should have been the Wood River, Illinois, police.
One of their detectives had driven to the hospital and picked up the evidence from Bade’s rape and then seems to have done nothing with that evidence.
Bade says she waited years for closure and justice.
5 On Your Side asked recently hired Wood River Police Chief, Brad Wells for an interview. At first, he agreed but then backed out of the interview. Chief Wells instead gave 5 On Your Side this statement,
"On the advice of counsel, I am declining to do an on-camera interview… I am doing a complete review of the policies and procedures with this department."
As for the Bade’s rape kit, it was not sent to the lab until almost five years later in May of 2015.
“My rape kit proved that I was raped,” she said.
It turns out Stephanie was right.
After getting the rape kit results, the Madison County State’s Attorney arrested Randy Glover for sexual assault.
“I lost all faith in the justice system,” Bade said.
She also says the system failed her again.
Glover struck a plea deal and plead guilty to a lesser charge of sexual abuse. Glover’s sentence was 30 months on probation.
5 On Your Side went to lawmakers about the rape kit delay.
“That's a failure of all of us in the justice system and we need to make sure that never happens again in the future,” said Illinois Representative, Margo McDermed.
Rep. McDermed is hopeful for the future.
She sponsored a new law that will create an online tracking system for rape kits.
“To provide reassurance and give some measure of control back to the victim,” she said.
Rep. McDermed says the task force in charge of implementing this new tracking system hopes to have the project handed over the Illinois State Police by this summer. The ISP will then put the project out for bid. There is no timeline as to when the online tool will be up and running.
