A Woman Admits to Falsely Accusing Duke Lacrosse Players of Rape in 2006
A woman who was at the center of the 2006 Duke University lacrosse scandal has publicly admitted to lying about being raped by three players. Crystal Mangum, a former exotic dancer, made the admission on a podcast, saying she falsely accused David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann of raping her.
Mangum’s accusations led to a highly publicized and controversial investigation, with Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong pursuing charges of first-degree rape, kidnapping, and sexual assault against the three players. However, as the investigation unfolded, Mangum’s story became increasingly inconsistent, and concerns were raised about the DNA evidence, leading to Nifong’s recusal and the three players’ eventual acquittal.
In her podcast interview, Mangum said she made up the story because she “wanted validation from people and not from God.” She also expressed regret, saying, “I testified falsely that they raped me when they didn’t, and that was wrong.”
Mangum’s admission comes 18 years after the incident, and it is the first time she has publicly acknowledged her lie. The accused players have since pursued civil litigation to restore their reputations, and the case has had far-reaching consequences for all involved, including former Duke lacrosse coach Mike Pressler and Durham District Attorney Nifong, who was found guilty of lying about DNA evidence.
As Mangum serves time in prison for killing her ex-boyfriend in 2011, she hopes that the men she accused can one day forgive her, acknowledging that “they didn’t deserve” her accusations. Her projected release date is February 27, 2026.