Justice Delay in Georgia - Crime Lab Closing

A mother waits for justice in the murder of her 24 year old son.  But, we've learned that wait could take longer because of budget cuts in Georgia's state government.  There are 7 regional crime labs in Georgia, and the headquarters in Atlanta that all process evidence to catch criminals and convict them in court.

But on April 1st, three are closing, including the one which serves our area.  That means a backlog of cases, that will back up the day of closure for victims' loved ones.

William Dillard, known as Lil Bill was killed in July at the age of 24.  Police in Lafayette say Mark White stabbed him to death after a fight over alcohol.  Friday, we sat down with William's mother, Kathryn Wael.  She says, "He made the comment that when he finds him he's gonna gut him, those were his exact words."

It's those words that stay with Kathryn.  Even though the suspect is in custody, Kathryn says she won't have closure until he's convicted.  "It's a nerve wrenching feeling and I'm just waiting until this is all over and I can finally let my son rest."

But seeing cases like William's murder through the court system is a process that will now take longer in Georgia.  That's because the Summerville GBI crime lab which processes evidence used in trials is closing in a few months.

GBI Spokesperson John Bankhead says closing the lab, means that evidence will now be sent to Atlanta.  Bankhead says that will cause a backlog of cases, delaying them up to 20 percent.  "It's gonna be a burden on everybody, it's a tough decision to be made, but given the revenue shortfall in Georgia, it's something that has to be done."

Dalton Police Chief Jason Parker says it's an issue that affects local law enforcement.  "Very concerned about the kind of things and kind of problems that's going to cause for law enforcement, but also for the citizens we serve."

The decision means their officers will have to wait longer on results of DNA and DUI tests.  "There are over 700 police agencies in georgia, so if you have evidence that needs to be processed, you are in line behind the other 699 potentially."

It's a line, that seems too long for Kathry, who simply waits for the justice system to convict her son's killer.  "The longer it takes to get through this, the longer it takes to heal."

Budget shortfalls could also affect crime labs in Tennessee.  The TBI says they may start charging local law enforcement agencies for every test they complete.  Their spokesperson says the department will consider the issue during their budget hearing on Monday.