Man Convicted of Raping Women in Kansas Released 30 Years Early, Survivors Not Notified
In a shocking turn of events, a man convicted of raping two women in Lawrence in the mid-90s is being released from prison 30 years earlier than expected.
The survivors of his heinous attacks were never notified of his earlier release date, causing them significant trauma.
Corey Elkins, the perpetrator of the rapes, was sentenced to 48 years in prison for four counts of rape and three counts of aggravated criminal sodomy.
However, 18 years into his sentence, he is being released, much to the dismay of the survivors who helped secure his conviction.
The lack of notification regarding the change in his release date has left the survivors baffled and shocked.
One survivor, referred to as Sasha, expressed her disbelief, stating, “We’ve thought all along that he would be close to 80 when he was released, and now he’s going to be younger than 60.
That’s a big difference for the survivors.”
Sasha revealed that she only discovered the change in Elkins’ release date by checking the Kansas Department of Corrections website.
She had not been notified of any resentencing hearings or updates in the case.
The other survivor, referred to as Kerry, was unable to see Elkins tried due to the statute of limitations in Kansas.
She expressed her outrage, saying, “In her case, he’s a serial rapist, and they’re letting him out early.
It’s not like he’s an innocent person.”
The connection of Elkins’ DNA to all the rape cases further solidified his guilt.
In 2006, his DNA was found in the national CODIS system, revealing a lengthy criminal history in California, including domestic violence charges.
Years after his conviction in Kansas, Elkins filed a motion to correct his sentence, leading to attorneys from the University of Kansas Project for Innocence and Post-Conviction Remedies getting involved.
The attorneys argued that the original sentence was illegal due to a misclassified non-related attempted burglary charge that affected the sentencing.
The court agreed and resentenced Elkins in 2021.
However, despite the resentencing, the survivors still have not been officially notified, nor were they given the opportunity to participate in the resentencing hearings.
Sasha expressed her disappointment in the lack of notification, stating that an apology from the district attorney and assistant district attorney was insufficient.
She demanded answers as to why the Project for Innocence took on the case and why she had to find out about the release on her own.
Efforts to obtain answers from the University of Kansas and the Douglas County District Attorney’s office have been met with silence.
The district attorney’s office issued a statement, citing a retired victim witness coordinator’s recommendation against notifying the victims, emphasizing their commitment to a trauma-informed approach.
However, local advocacy groups argue that not notifying the victims contradicts trauma-informed best practices.
The release of Corey Elkins has not only reopened old wounds for the survivors but has also raised serious concerns about the notification process and the handling of the case.
As the victims continue to seek answers, the community awaits a response from the involved parties regarding this distressing turn of events.
