Woman made up rape story to cover for missing work, deputies say

[alp227]

A woman who didn't want to get in trouble for skipping work fabricated a story about being sexually assaulted on the side of the highway, leading investigators from multiple agencies to waste more than 100 hours searching for a suspect who didn't exist, deputies say.

Alexandra Anne Westover, 21, of West Boca, showed no remorse even after a deputy pointed out her lie created unnecessary work for the investigators, nurses and victim advocates, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office report. She did not return a call seeking comment Friday.

Advocates for victims of sexual assault say that while false allegations are extremely rare – making up only 2 to 10 percent of all cases – they harm true victims. Tracy Cox, spokeswoman for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, said such instances can stop people from reporting real assaults.

"Sadly enough, there is already a stigma associated with sexual assault and a lot of times, people who have been violated hesitate to come forward because they feel that perhaps they won't be believed," she said.

full: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-turnpike-rape-lie-20140214,0,2858339.story

A-holes like her are why rape victims have such a ******* hard time being believed!

[seabeyond]

1. Bullshit. It is rare. If it is so fuckin hard to believe it is not this asshole.

And ya, it pisses me off she lied, she hurts victims, but if anyone uses it, it is merely and excuse on their part.

[msanthrope]

3. What? nt

[Major Nikon]

4. The false report rate for rape is about the same as for other violent crimes

[one_voice]

2. WTF...

That's beyond reprehensible. I hope she goes to jail.

That being said, that's not why victims have such a hard time being believed. It certainly doesn't help, but we still have too much of 'what did she do to deserve it'. That's at least part of the problem.

For some reason we still want to put some part of the blame on the victim. How was she dressed, didn't she know better than to go in that neighborhood...etc. When someone's house is robbed they aren't put through the third degree. The get compassion and understanding.

Victims of rape/sexual assault are the only victims of crime that have been blamed--partially at least--for crime committed against them.

If someone has their house robbed for insurance money, all people that are robbed aren't treated with skepticism because of that. Each case is considered legit until proven otherwise. The same courtesy should be given to rape victims.

Don't misunderstand me women like this are very damaging to us, but if there wasn't that 'stain' of doubt with rape victims to begin with shit like this wouldn't have any bearing on victims overall.


***I'm not saying all law enforcement act like this, but many do. And there is still a mindset with far too many people that somehow a rape victim somehow contributed to what happened or she's not being completely truthful.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. I agree with most of your post.

Like you said, things like this aren't why survivors of rapes and sexual assaults are sometimes treated like shit. However, I disagree that rape survivors are the only ones blamed for crimes against them. I have been involved in a number of cases where the victim was a gay man attacked and he was grilled because obviously he did something to bring on the attack.

Persons like this woman do a discredit to all victims of crime, but especially those of us who are victims of sexual assault. She is no different that those who falsely claim gay-bashing, attacks by neo-Nazis, and the list goes on, but they are so far and few between, it is disgusting how they are treated like they are the norm.

[stevenleser]

7. + infinity. nt

[one_voice]

8. couldn't agree more

What you said is what I was trying to say. I wish I could express myself better...be more clear. I much better with the spoken word.

Great post!

I'm off to bed now.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. Sleep well!

You expressed yourself well.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. "making up only 2 to 10 percent of all cases..." Sounds like someone's guessing and has no real clue

just how often this happens. That's a pretty large spread, and if you factor in any kind of error rate, what might the number be THEN?

Is 1+ in 10 "extremely rare"?

Render rapists impotent, and jail false accusers for multiple decades without parole.

[2pooped2pop]

10. I know of someone who just last month threatened to claim rape

Her and husband were fighting. She had left him for someone else and that didn't last the weekend. So she came crying home, begging to get back in. She had sex with her husband and stayed the night. In the morning when he told her it was still over and she had to leave-

"I'm calling the police and telling them you raped me" and "throwing me out is neglect of the baby"

so it does happen, but more so the threat than the follow through.