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Removal of statute of limitations on rape, sodomy passes House

JEFFERSON CITY - Rapists and sodomizers found no votes of support in the Missouri House Tuesday, as legislators unanimously voted to remove the statute of limitations on forcible and attempted forcible rape and sodomy.

If the bill passes into law, it will mean that suspects can be tried no matter how long ago the alleged crime occurred.

The bill is an attempt by some legislators to clarify confusion over differing rulings by two state appeals courts. State law is ambiguous in the matter, as one court has said a three-year statute of limitations applies, while another has ruled that no such limit applies.

The bill will now move to the Senate, which is expected to debate it later this week.