HB 4628

An act relating to the duties of law enforcement agencies, crime laboratories, and the Department of Public Safety following the performance of certain DNA profile comparisons.

On September 1, 2023 HB 4628 became effective in the state of Texas.

If I had my way, it would be called Melissa’s Law. It was inspired by the bravery of one amazing young woman, Melissa Winton. Melissa reported her rape/strangulation to the Plano PD in September of 2012.

Long story short… she was not believed.

Two years later, there was a CODIS hit that linked Melissa’s rapist to another case in South Padre. Same suspect. Same pattern. Same everything. However, this CODIS hit was not considered relevant to Plano PD who maintained that Melissa was a liar. After detectives from South Padre and Plano discussed the cases connected to the CODIS hit, the case notes from Melissa’s 2012 rape read, “He (legal advisor to Plano PD) advised against contacting the victim of PPD case at this time unless it appeared South Padre Island PD was going to contact her.” Melissa was never told there was a CODIS hit. Not until AFTER Molly was raped and murdered.

THIS is why I fought to get HB 4628 across the finish line. CODIS hits matter. Always. Not only in cases where the suspect is unknown. All cases. They should be treated as valuable pieces of evidence and responded to in a timely manner. And victims should be notified when there is a CODIS hit.

Had the Plano PD and/or Cameron County District Attorney treated the 2014 CODIS hit as the investigative lead it was, Molly and Megan might be alive today.

We must do better.