Woman admits to falsely accusing three Duke lacrosse students of rape
Durham, N.C. – A 26-year-old woman has admitted to falsely accusing three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her at a party in 2006, after a year-long investigation and a lavish settlement with the university.
The woman, who has not been named, filed a 20-page statement with the university last week, saying that she made up the allegations out of “sadness, antagonism, and a sense of betrayal” and that she knew the team had done nothing wrong.
The three players – Dave Evans, Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty – have been exonerated and have filed a civil lawsuit against the woman, claiming emotional and psychological distress.
The original accusations against the three players led to a citywide debate about racism and the treatment of women. The woman, who was a student at North Carolina Central University, was 20 years old at the time of the alleged assault.
She said in her statement that she had been struggling with personal issues, including a troubled childhood and a history of self-mutilation and eating disorders. She stated that she began to “fabricate traumatic events” to gain sympathy and attention from others, including her family and friends.
The woman admitted that she had also fabricated a previous story about being a victim of crime, which had been reported to law enforcement. She said that she had gotten “careless” and “guilty” about the allegations, but was “trapped” and “ashamed” and could not move forward without speaking the truth.
The statement was filed with the university as part of a settlement agreement in which the woman will receive a payment, but the amount was not disclosed. The university has also agreed to pay for counseling and therapy for the falsely accused men.
The three players have released statements saying they were relieved and grateful that the truth had finally come out, and that they hope to rebuild their lives. They are still seeking damages from the woman for the harm and suffering she has caused them.
The case is a rare example of a false rape accusation, which can be devastating and potentially career-ending for the accused. Experts say that false reporting of sexual assault can undermine the credibility of legitimate victims and create a culture of skepticism and mistrust.