Mariska Hargitay helped fund testing of 11,341 rape kits in Detroit; 263 convictions followed

Hargitay also helped draw attention to the issue among lawmakers (AP file photo) More than 250 convictions have emerged from a long-running investigation into thousands of sexual assault cases in Detroit, Michigan, where evidence had remained untested for decades. American actress Mariska Hargitay, best known for her role as detective Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU, was among those who helped fund and support the effort. According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, the Detroit Sexual Assault Kit Project had secured 263 convictions by April 2025, while investigations and prosecutions were still continuing.The project began in 2009, when authorities discovered 11,341 sexual assault evidence kits inside a Detroit Police Department warehouse. According toAccording to Wayne County, Michigan, the kits related to cases dating from 1984 to 2009, but none had been submitted for testing. The discovery meant that evidence collected over 25 years was still awaiting examination.Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy took responsibility for addressing the backlog. However, examining such a large number of kits required considerable funding, which was difficult to secure at the time. Det...