Gina Barton

The idea started with our project into the problem of untested rape kits. And we looked into a federal grant program that was supposed to help solve that problem. During our reporting, I came across a court file talking about a man named Marshawn Curtis, and he was just going to be coming up for trial.

The idea started with our project into the problem of untested rape kits. And we looked into a federal grant program that was supposed to help solve that problem. During our reporting, I came across a court file talking about a man named Marshawn Curtis, and he was just going to be coming up for trial.

So I went to the trial, and that is where I met Detective Annie Harrison and started to hear and learn about everything that she went through for almost a year to try and bring this man to justice after he had gotten away with numerous sex crimes for 10 years. I just thought it would be a really compelling story for listeners.

So I went to the trial, and that is where I met Detective Annie Harrison and started to hear and learn about everything that she went through for almost a year to try and bring this man to justice after he had gotten away with numerous sex crimes for 10 years. I just thought it would be a really compelling story for listeners.

And we have some great audio that really gives you the inside view of how a police investigation works.

And we have some great audio that really gives you the inside view of how a police investigation works.

I met Annie in the courtroom. And I have to say, when I first met her, I was a little bit intimidated by her. She's obviously very authoritative as a police detective. She's a little hard to read. But once I started talking with her, I realized she is really unusual as police. a police detective compared to lots of other ones that I've met during the course of my career.

I met Annie in the courtroom. And I have to say, when I first met her, I was a little bit intimidated by her. She's obviously very authoritative as a police detective. She's a little hard to read. But once I started talking with her, I realized she is really unusual as police. a police detective compared to lots of other ones that I've met during the course of my career.

Annie was willing to talk about some of the mistakes that had been made in the investigation. She was willing to talk about how she as a detective had learned and evolved over the course of her career. She was very open about how much she cared about victims and how important she feels like this project is to get these rape kits tested, and how police across the country just have to do better.

Annie was willing to talk about some of the mistakes that had been made in the investigation. She was willing to talk about how she as a detective had learned and evolved over the course of her career. She was very open about how much she cared about victims and how important she feels like this project is to get these rape kits tested, and how police across the country just have to do better.

As the reporting process went on, I ended up talking to Annie for probably 40 or 50 hours. I recorded all of those conversations, so I'd like to share this clip from one of them.

As the reporting process went on, I ended up talking to Annie for probably 40 or 50 hours. I recorded all of those conversations, so I'd like to share this clip from one of them.

The thing that struck me about Annie is that she is very victim-centered in her investigations. She really concentrates on how to make the victims feel comfortable, how not to re-traumatize them through the investigation.

The thing that struck me about Annie is that she is very victim-centered in her investigations. She really concentrates on how to make the victims feel comfortable, how not to re-traumatize them through the investigation.

She also goes the extra mile and makes the extra effort to find out everything that she possibly can about the suspect so that if the victim chooses not to come to trial, they can still have a case against him. So Annie never asks the victims if they want to prosecute. Instead, she builds a case assuming that that victim will not testify and

She also goes the extra mile and makes the extra effort to find out everything that she possibly can about the suspect so that if the victim chooses not to come to trial, they can still have a case against him. So Annie never asks the victims if they want to prosecute. Instead, she builds a case assuming that that victim will not testify and

And if the victim does testify, then that's great and it's a better case. But that isn't required to make a case. That stands in contrast to some of the other detectives who investigated this same suspect. The first detective who investigated that case did not send the rape kit to be tested. And she basically said, this is a he said, she said case. He's just as believable as she is.

And if the victim does testify, then that's great and it's a better case. But that isn't required to make a case. That stands in contrast to some of the other detectives who investigated this same suspect. The first detective who investigated that case did not send the rape kit to be tested. And she basically said, this is a he said, she said case. He's just as believable as she is.

It's probably not going to go anywhere. And then when the same suspect was investigated again in 2020, the detective there in Georgia said, if you listen to her interview with the victim and her interview with the suspect, which we will be sharing with you on the show, Untested, it's almost as if the victim is being treated as a suspect. And when that detective interviews her,

It's probably not going to go anywhere. And then when the same suspect was investigated again in 2020, the detective there in Georgia said, if you listen to her interview with the victim and her interview with the suspect, which we will be sharing with you on the show, Untested, it's almost as if the victim is being treated as a suspect. And when that detective interviews her,