 DA Steve Mulroy speaks at a press conference alongside County Mayor Lee Harris announcing the acquisition of rapid DNA technology to help strengthen and expedite the criminal justice process.
This week, I joined Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris to talk about an important investment in public safety: bringing Rapid DNA technology to law enforcement agencies across Shelby County.
Four Rapid DNA machines will allow trained law enforcement officers to generate a DNA profile from evidence in as little as 90 minutes—a process that traditionally can take weeks or months.
Why does that matter? Because if we want to keep driving crime down, we need to continue increasing the number of crimes that are solved.
Faster DNA results can help investigators develop leads sooner, identify suspects, and just as importantly, eliminate innocent people as suspects. For victims and families waiting for answers, cutting weeks or months from an investigation can make a real difference.
For the past 10 quarters, Shelby County has seen a downward trend in crime. Continuing that trend means improving our clearance rate—our solve rate—and taking advantage of the best forensic technology available to us.
The County is investing $700,000 in four machines that will be available to trained law enforcement agencies across Shelby County. I believe that’s a smart investment on the front end. We spend millions dealing with crime after it happens. Investing in technology that can help us solve more crimes and move cases through the system faster makes sense.
It also sends an important message to victims of crime: Your case matters. Getting answers matters. And solving more crimes is a priority.
 The four rapid DNA machines, pictured above, are approximately the size of a standard computer printer and will help expedite DNA processing.
Jury Convicts Defendant in 2020 Shooting Death of 8-Year-Old Girl: Chief Prosecutors Lessie Rainey and Cavett Ostner successfully prosecuted the case against Cedric Conley, who a Shelby County jury convicted Saturday on multiple charges stemming from the 2020 shooting death of 8-year-old Jordyn Washington.
The jury convicted Conley of Reckless Homicide, Criminal Attempt: Voluntary Manslaughter, Felon in Possession of a Handgun, Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon, and Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony. Judge Lee V. Coffee will sentence Conley on September 24.
The case stems from a November 22, 2020 shooting at an apartment complex in the 5200 block of Shelbourne Circle in Raleigh. Conley argued with several people in the parking lot before retrieving an assault-style rifle and firing at the group, according to evidence presented at trial. One bullet entered a nearby apartment and struck Jordyn in the head as she stood in the kitchen with her grandmother. Jordyn died at the scene.
After the shooting, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation placed Conley on its Most Wanted list. Authorities arrested him in New Orleans approximately two weeks later and extradited him to Memphis.
Chief Prosecutors Lessie Rainey & Cavett Ostner handled the case.
Defendant Sentenced to 65 Years Following Child Rape and Kidnapping Conviction: Chief Prosecutors Devon Dennis and Lessie Rainey successfully prosecuted the case against Daireus Ice, who received a 65-year sentence to be served at 100% today in Shelby County Criminal Court Division 8. Judge Craft imposed the maximum sentence on all three counts following Ice’s guilty verdicts at trial last year.
Ice received 40 years at 100% for Rape of a Child, 12 years at 100% for Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and 25 years at 100% for Especially Aggravated Kidnapping. The Court ordered the sentences for Counts 1 and 3 to run consecutively and Count 2 to run concurrently, resulting in a total effective sentence of 65 years.
The case stems from the 2018 kidnapping and sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl. Investigators testified that Ice recruited Antoine Wilson, who pleaded guilty to the charges and testified against Ice, to abduct the child from her front yard. Wilson sexually assaulted the child while Ice recorded the attack before leaving her near her home.
The case took several years to reach trial due to multiple co-defendants, several reassignments of the trial judge, and extensive DNA analysis. Ice also faces multiple other pending cases involving similar allegations.
Chief Prosecutors Devon Dennis and Lessie Rainey of the Shelby County District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit handled the case.
Chief Prosecutors Devon Dennis & Lessie Rainey handled the case.
Defendant Sentenced to 25 Years Following Second-Degree Murder Conviction: Assistant District Attorneys JD Hamblen and Dijahanua Jones successfully prosecuted the case against Jeffery Boyle, who received a 25-year sentence at 100% for Second-Degree Murder on Monday, August 24. Shelby County Criminal Court Division 4 Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett also sentenced Boyle to five years for Tampering with Evidence, to run concurrently with the murder sentence.
A Shelby County jury found Boyle guilty of Second-Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence on May 29 following a four-day trial.
The case stems from an April 12, 2021 shooting that killed 30-year-old Reginald Palmer Jr. The State presented testimony from multiple witnesses, including Palmer’s girlfriend, who witnessed the shooting and identified Boyle as the shooter. After Boyle shot Palmer, Palmer drove away from the scene and asked his girlfriend to call 911. He later died from his injuries.
ADAs JD Hamblen & Dijahanua Jones tried the case.
DA Mulroy Discusses Faster Case Resolutions on “A Better Memphis”
 DA Mulroy with 'A Better Memphis' hosts Joe Birch and Kym Clark
DA Mulroy recently joined “A Better Memphis” to discuss efforts by the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office to move cases through the criminal justice system more efficiently and resolve cases faster. He also provided an update on other ongoing work and initiatives within the office.
Watch the full interview here: Watch the full interview
“It helps us see where cases are getting stuck, better manage our prosecutors’ workloads, and move cases toward resolution faster.” -Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy |Data Pushes Faster Casework at District Attorney General’s Office| via Memphis Flyer
“We spend so many millions of dollars a year on prisons and jails and all the other things we do on the back end to deal with a crime problem,” Mulroy said. “This investment of $700,000 to get four different machines that are gonna be pumping out results all over the county is a great investment on the front end to solve more crimes and to move things through the system quicker.” |DNA results from crime scenes could soon be returned in as little as 90 minutes in Shelby County| via The Daily Memphian
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office released a statement in opposition of the decision: “We disagree with the Court’s position. It is entirely appropriate for the prosecution to agree with the defense when the prosecution is convinced that the facts and the law justify that position. In fact, it would be unethical for a prosecutor to do otherwise. The case law is also clear that, at the trial-court level, the appropriate office is the District Attorney’s Office—not the Attorney General’s Office.
We remain convinced by the evidence that Mr. Hayes was wrongfully convicted. We hope to have the opportunity to fully brief and argue the jurisdictional issues before the Court so that justice may be done for a man who has spent nearly 20 years imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.” |Judge delays decision to free man wrongfully convicted in 2007 murder| via WMC5
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