How does a victim get justice when the defendant dies?

Maleeha Kamal gets answers

Kimt news 3 at six./// questions left unanswered.

What happens next in a criminal case of sexual misconduct ?

"* now that the man wanted, is dead.

After a busy morning for some, i'm tracking a calm evening ahead followed by another crazy temperature swing.

I'll tell you what it all means for you, coming up./// plus the answers you've been waiting for... court documents reveal what caused the thunderous blasts heard around mason city./// thank you for joining us for kimt news 3 at six.

I'm katie lange.

And i'm george mallet.

We begin tonight with the person police believe deliberately crashed his car into oncoming traffic in mantorville yesterday.

The man has been identified as 39?

"* year?

"*old anthony vincent mitchell.

Mitchell was wanted for third degree sexual misconduct involving a teen.

We wanted to know what will happen with the criminal case since the defendant is now dead.

Kitm news 3 maleeha kamal has some answers.

I spoke to olmsted county attorney mark ostrem who says when a suspect of defedndant passes away the criminal case dies .

So how does a victim get justice?

Laura sutherland is with victim services in olmsted county.

She says victims often find it difficult to come forward in cases of sexual misconduct.

So when an alleged offender commits suicide the victim who built up the nerve to speak out can feel robbed of justice.

Sutherland suggests such a victim might benefit and find closure through a support group.

"i think one of the great beauties of support groups is it lets you know that you're not alone.

And it really is meant to be a safe space for victims to process all the many different feelings that they might be experiencing."

Sutherland says if you're a victim of sexual violence you can reach out victim services helps individuals in olmsted county, dodge county,