Unbelievable & I Am Evidence: Exposing Serial Rapists, Reopening Cold Cases, and Repairing the Damage of Delayed Justice

AEquitas Senior Attorney Advisor Patti Powers and Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Dan Van examine two powerful productions—Unbelievable and I Am Evidence—and examine what they reveal about serial rapists, untested rape kits, and the consequences of delayed justice. Drawing from decades of prosecutorial and appellate experience, Patti and Dan break down the strategies needed to reopen cold cases, rebuild thin or incomplete files, and secure convictions years after a crime.Together, they explore trauma-informed approaches to re-engaging victims, how forensic science and CODIS hits reshape investigations, and why understanding offender behavior—including stalking, surveillance, and pattern variation—is essential to proving serial rape. They discuss charging decisions, using other-acts evidence, litigating Rule 404(b), preserving DNA, and strengthening the record for appeal. This episode shows how prosecutors can turn old files and untested kits into powerful cases—and what it takes to hold serial rapists accountable long after the system failed to act.For more information:Where to watch the Limited Series Unbelievable is available here.Unbelievable was based on the book A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong. This book followed the authors’ investigative reporting  An UnBelieveable Story of Rape, copublished by Pro Publica and The Marshall Project, for which they won a Pulitzer Prize.  Senior Attorney Advisor, Patti Power’s Bio is available here. The bio for Daniel Van, Assistant Supervisor Appeals Unit of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office is available on Linkedin. Please visit AEquitasResource.org to find on-demand trainings, articles, amicus briefs, and request expert assistance and visit theRSVP.org for the Model Response to Sexual Violence for Prosecutors. In addition, this episode references CODIS, which stands for Combined DNA Index System. You can find information on CODIS at : https://le.fbi.gov/science-and-lab/biometrics-and-fingerprints/codis-2. Additional AEquitas resources on the prosecution of cold case sexual assaults can be found at the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative website. This podcast discusses the violent crimes of sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking. If you need support, please call: The National Domestic Violence Hotline, RAINN, and The National Trafficking Hotline.If you'd like more info about AEquitas visit: AEquitasResource.org⁠ or email us at: [email protected]. Follow AEquitas on Instagram at @aequitas_resource.