PA - Rachael DelTondo, 33, killed in mother's driveway on Mother's Day, Alquippa, 2018

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It doesn't look like there's going to be an arrest anytime soon.

The investigation has moved slowly, in part, as a result of forensic testing that might glean more information about potential suspects.

“Forensics take time,” Lozier said.

He pointed to DNA, fingerprints and ballistic analysis, for which he said results can take up to nine months to be delivered to investigators.

Lozier said the investigation is ongoing by the Aliquippa Police Department and the Beaver County Detectives Bureau, as well as state police, who have offered “forensic support.” Federal agencies are also assisting, he said.

“We don’t want to arrest the wrong guy or girl,” Lozier said.

Aliquippa homicide investigators 'doggedly pursuing evidence'
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This article is from 2015 and focuses on the testing of rape kits in Pennsylvania, but I'm not sure how different testing times are for other crimes (I'd imagine not very different for murder). Average waiting time of 90 - 120 days.

And it seems the submitting police force can designate the case a priority to expedite testing within a few days (BBM).

On average, the bureau said it takes between 90 and 120 days from when a case is submitted to the state police for processing before results are delivered to the requesting agency.

However, the submitting police department can request a "priority" designation and it could take as little as a few days. Of the 600 sexual assault and rape cases handled by the bureau in 2014, approximately 72 percent of them come from local law enforcement agencies.

The bureau said that evidence submitted in sex crimes cases do not always include an actual rape kit, though many do.

Perry County District Attorney Charles Chenot called receiving evidence results in 90 to 120 days "timely." While it is very important that the evidence is collected quickly, it's not as imperative that it's processed quickly, he said.

Police officers are not sitting at their desks waiting for results because they're busy doing interviews and working on other cases. Chenot said it takes police the better part of 90 days to get all the interviews done, collect all the evidence and submit the charges.

Time delays for processing rape evidence are not a problem in Pennsylvania, district attorneys say
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ETA: I'm calling BS on the 9 months quote.
 
Gardenista said:
Couple more recent articles about Rachel from the Beaver Countian.

It Could Be Months Before An Arrest Is Made In Rachael DelTondo Homicide Investigation - BeaverCountian.com

Protest Signs Appear In Front Of Courthouse Seeking Justice For DelTondo - Support For Trump - BeaverCountian.com
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OK, just got around to reading these and I am SO pissed by this from the attorney who said heinous things about Rachel. If he felt bad for her mom, he would never had made those despicable comments:

“I am not sure what evidence they are hoping to find. There is nothing more they are going to find,” said attorney Santicola, who believes investigators are looking at the wrong people. “I feel bad for Rachael’s mother.”

:mad::mad::mad:
 
Legally Bland said:
This article is from 2015 and focuses on the testing of rape kits in Pennsylvania, but I'm not sure how different testing times are for other crimes (I'd imagine not very different for murder). Average waiting time of 90 - 120 days.

And it seems the submitting police force can designate the case a priority to expedite testing within a few days (BBM).



ETA: I'm calling BS on the 9 months quote.
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Agree. One tool LE can use is the NIBIN system. If they use NIBIN, the turnaround time can be as little as 48 hours.


http://www.policeforum.org/assets/crimegunintelligencecenter.pdf

>>snip

The second phase is timeliness. The first hours after a violent crime are critical for law enforcement. Rapid turnaround time is essential to solving cases. The quicker the data can be evaluated, the quicker law enforcement can identify leads that result in arrests. By immediately entering the information and acting quickly on high-prob- ability hits, additional investigative leads are provided in real-time. According to ATF officials, 48 hours or less is the ideal turnaround time for ballistic evidence analysis in NIBIN.33



There is a NIBIN site in Pittsburgh.


National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NIBIN Program - How it Works?
The NIBIN Program automates ballistics evaluations and provides actionable investigative leads in a timely manner. NIBIN is the only interstate automated ballistic imaging network in operation in the United States and is available to most major population centers in the United States.

Prior to the NIBIN Program, firearms examiners performed this process manually which was extremely labor intensive. To use NIBIN, firearms examiners or technicians enter cartridge casing evidence into the Integrated Ballistic Identification System. These images are correlated against the database. Law enforcement can search against evidence from their jurisdiction, neighboring ones, and others across the country. This program is one investigative tool accessed by law enforcement that allows each of us to share information and cooperation easily making all of us more effective in closing cases.

NIBIN in Action
Success Stories

NIBIN Fact Sheet

NIBIN Interactive Map - Locate a NIBIN Sites
 
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Aliquippa Police Chief on paid administrative leave

Aliquippa Police Chief Donald Couch was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday night.

Snip

We reached out to Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier who said it was an internal matter for the city, but that he did not believe Chief Couch being placed on leave would impact the DelTondo investigation because he is not a detective.
 
Aliquippa City Council will be appointing Assistant Chief Joseph Perciavalle to the position of acting Police Chief. Perciavalle has told City Officials he intends to contact the Pennsylvania State Police as his first official action, asking them to take over the investigation into the murder of Rachael DelTondo.

“I don’t feel Aliquippa Police should ever have been investigating the murder of Rachael DelTondo,” said Mottes. “Perciavalle and I are on the same page.”

It is unclear if the Pennsylvania State Police will agree to become involved in an investigation that up until now has been conducted by a team consisting of only Aliquippa Police and the Beaver County Detectives Bureau.

Aliquippa Police Chief Placed On Administrative Leave - Target Of State Police Investigation - BeaverCountian.com
 
Legally Bland said:
Aliquippa City Council will be appointing Assistant Chief Joseph Perciavalle to the position of acting Police Chief. Perciavalle has told City Officials he intends to contact the Pennsylvania State Police as his first official action, asking them to take over the investigation into the murder of Rachael DelTondo.

“I don’t feel Aliquippa Police should ever have been investigating the murder of Rachael DelTondo,” said Mottes. “Perciavalle and I are on the same page.”

It is unclear if the Pennsylvania State Police will agree to become involved in an investigation that up until now has been conducted by a team consisting of only Aliquippa Police and the Beaver County Detectives Bureau.

Aliquippa Police Chief Placed On Administrative Leave - Target Of State Police Investigation - BeaverCountian.com
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Wow, that video was crazy--I didn't realize he was sitting right there when it happened.
 
GrilledCheezy said:
Did y'all notice the little smirk on the chief's face when Mottes asked the officers and assistant chief to step up at the beginning of the video? Gotta wonder what he thought was about to happen.
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Been lurking on this thread but I have to say it’s about time!! Hopefully if the State Police take over there will be some movement.
 
I don't think this article has been posted yet:

Solicitor: Aliquippa Police Chief's Paid Administrative Leave Unrelated To Rachael DelTondo Murder Investigation

The Aliquippa solicitor confirms the city’s police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave. However, he said it has nothing to do with an ongoing murder investigation involving a former teacher.

Solicitor Myron Sainovich said Police Chief Don Couch had no idea what was about to happen when he walked into an Aliquippa Council meeting Wednesday night.

aliquippa-police-chief-don-couch.jpg

(Photo Credit: KDKA)

“Last evening, for personnel issues, they decided they were going to place the police chief on administrative leave. There was speculation and some innuendo that this is in some way related to the [Rachael DelTondo] murder. That is completely false, that has nothing to do with it,” Sainovich said.
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Here's a link to the council meeting on YouTube if anyone missed it, go to approx 14m20s.

 
Legally Bland said:
Aliquippa City Council will be appointing Assistant Chief Joseph Perciavalle to the position of acting Police Chief. Perciavalle has told City Officials he intends to contact the Pennsylvania State Police as his first official action, asking them to take over the investigation into the murder of Rachael DelTondo.

“I don’t feel Aliquippa Police should ever have been investigating the murder of Rachael DelTondo,” said Mottes. “Perciavalle and I are on the same page.”

It is unclear if the Pennsylvania State Police will agree to become involved in an investigation that up until now has been conducted by a team consisting of only Aliquippa Police and the Beaver County Detectives Bureau.

Aliquippa Police Chief Placed On Administrative Leave - Target Of State Police Investigation - BeaverCountian.com
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First glimmer of hope that justice for Rachel might happen after all. Fingers crossed that PSP agrees to take over the investigation!
 
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