Detectives determined that a rape reported on Tuesday didn’t happen, GPD spokesperson Ofc. Ben Tobias wrote in an email Friday morning.
A woman told police she was pulled into the woods near the Kanapaha Veterans Memorial Park and raped by two men around 10 a.m., Tobias said.
While the woman was transported to a local hospital, investigators began searching for evidence of the attack, Tobias said. Sexual Violence Unit detectives took over the case, and a rape victim advocate was assigned to the woman.
Detectives found physical evidence that contradicted the woman’s report but will not release the information publicly because the case is still open, Tobias said. The woman told police the attack didn’t happen during a follow-up interview.
Detectives and victim advocates are still working with the woman, Tobias said. GPD might file charges against the woman for reporting a false claim.
GPD investigators and victim advocates begin investigations by believing every alleged victim, Tobias said.
“We understand that trauma may prevent a victim from remembering information, but this case did not have any evidence to back up the woman’s claims,” he said.
Contact Jessica Curbelo at jcurbelo@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @jesscurbelo
