Tina Sutter Honored for a Legacy of Providing Services to Victims of Crime

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Jeffrey Ray, Acting United State Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, presented the annual Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award today to Tina Sutter.

The award, presented annually during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in April, honors the memory of Ali Kemp and Crystal Kipper, both of whom were fatal victims of tragic crimes.

Ray presented the award to Tina Sutter, retired Victim/Witness Specialist, during a ceremony today. Tina Sutter provided support to victims of crime at the U.S Attorney’s Office for the past 21 years. Tina worked tirelessly to ensure that victims and witnesses of federal crimes were treated fairly, that their privacy was respected, and that they were treated with dignity and respect. Tina was committed to helping victims and witnesses of crime while they were involved with the federal criminal justice system, and providing support after their case was completed.

In presenting the award, Ray noted the theme for the 2025 Crime Victims’ Rights week is “KINSHIP, Connecting and Healing.” This year’s theme is a call-to-action to recognize that shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime. KINSHIP is a state of being with survivors that drives vital connections and increases access to services, rights, and healing. KINSHIP is where victim advocacy begins “With her compassionate and caring approach, Tina connected with countless victims of crime as they navigated the criminal justice system, accessed services, and sought healing,” said Ray.

Ray presented the Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Award alongside Anna Kipper Rea, the mother of Crystal Kipper, and Jill and Bob Leiker of the Ali Kemp Educational Foundation, an organization founded by the late Roger Kemp, the father of Ali Kemp.

The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award

This is the 21st year for the award to be presented in memory of Crystal Kipper and Ali Kemp, two young women who were both fatal victims of tragic crimes. Crystal Kipper was an 18-year-old Gladstone, Mo., resident who was murdered after she ran out of gas on Interstate 29, just north of Platte City, on Feb. 24, 1997. Ali Kemp was a 19-year-old Blue Valley North High School graduate who was murdered on June 18, 2002, while she worked at the Foxborough neighborhood swimming pool in Leawood, Kan.

The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award is presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office each year to recognize the outstanding work of an individual or organization in recognition of a valued contribution to preventing and responding to the exploitation of children.