Police Missteps Allowed Detroit Serial Killer to Roam Free: Investigation Reveals

An Associated Press investigation has revealed that police in Detroit repeatedly failed to follow up on leads and take investigative steps that could have prevented a serial killer from continuing his killing spree. DeAngelo Martin killed four women and raped two others over a 16-month period before being captured. The investigation found that police ignored warnings about Martin's violent tendencies and failed to properly investigate previous sexual assault cases linked to him. The police also did not seek a warrant to obtain Martin's DNA after it was linked to a murder, and they did not communicate with other law enforcement agencies about his criminal activities. Families of the victims are furious about the police failures, and while the police acknowledge their mistakes, they maintain that Martin is solely responsible for the loss of their loved ones.