Louis R. Vitullo
Louis Vitullo | |
---|---|
Louis Vitullo investigates a knife supposedly used by Richard Speck in the murder of eight nurses. | |
Born | 1924/1925 |
Died |
(aged 81) |
Occupation | police sergeant, microanalyst |
Louis R. Vitullo (1924? – January 3, 2006[1]) was a Chicago police sergeant and later became chief microanalyst at the city's crime lab.[2] He is best known as the first person to standardize evidence collection in cases of sexual assault, which until then was not done in a systematic fashion. The resulting evidence kits were initially called Vitullo kits[1] and continued to be known as such even after his name was officially removed from them.[2] They are now more commonly known as sexual assault evidence kits (SAEK) or rape kits for short.
Death
Vitullo died at Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington on January 3, 2006 after he collapsed at his home in Cary.[2] He was survived by his wife Betty, his two children Robert and Jennifer, and two grandchildren, Jamie and Tristin.[2]
References
- 1 2 Obituary for Louis R. Vitullo Archived 2006-06-17 at the Wayback Machine. at lastlinkontheleft.com (accessed October 19, 2006).
- 1 2 3 4 "Crime lab expert developed rape kits: Standard system to collect" Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine. by Chris Fusco, Chicago Sun-Times (published January 12, 2006; accessed October 19, 2006).