Police: Woman Faked Gruesome Anti-Gay Attack to Spark Change — May Have Even Carved Gay Slurs Into Own Skin
Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:53am by Erica Ritz
(The
Blaze/AP) — A former University of Nebraska women’s basketball star
faked an attack in which she allegedly carved anti-gay slurs into her
skin because she felt it would spark change, police said Tuesday.
Four days before Charlie Rogers crawled naked and bleeding from her
Lincoln home, screaming for help, she outlined in a Facebook post what
investigators believe was her motive for faking the July 22 attack,
Police Chief Jim Peschong said at a news conference.
“So maybe I am too idealistic, but I believe way deep inside me that we
can make things better for everyone. I will be a catalyst. I will do
what it takes. I will. Watch me,” read the July 18 posting, according to
police.
Furthermore, genetic testing on evidence gathered at the crime scene undermines Rogers’ account of what happened, Peschong said.
(Related: Lesbian Couple in Colorado Charged After Allegedly Faking ...)
Charlie Rogers, 33, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to making a false police
report and was released on her own recognizance. She didn’t respond to a
message seeking comment left Tuesday at a number listed as hers, but
her lawyer, Brett McArthur, said she maintains the attack happened and
plans to vigorously defend herself.
“This has been a very traumatic event for her, and having the focus of
the investigation turn toward her has been really hard,” said McArthur,
who described Rogers as reserved and soft-spoken, and not the type to
seek attention.
Below is an interview Rogers did with KETV in late July, where she
expressed disappointment that the focus of the investigation seemed to
be turning towards her.
“What matters is the story, you know? That’s awful. It feels awful to
me. This is an investigation. This is a crime. This is not– it deserves a
level of respect. I know when these sorts of things happen, it ignites
fires, and that’s a good thing in some ways…” she said.
According to police, Rogers said three masked men broke into her home,
and that one of them pinned her down while another sliced a cross into
her chest, cut the front of her thighs and shins and carved derogatory
words in her arms and abdomen. She said they then rolled her onto her
stomach and cut her buttocks, the back of her thighs and the back of her
right calf. She also said they tried to burn down her house.
The community’s gay community responded swiftly, and hundreds turned out for a rally that weekend outside the state Capitol.
But now, four Nebraska gay-rights groups that followed the case have
released a joint statement crediting police for conducting what they
believe was a balanced and thorough investigation.
Police reportedly found a pile of clothes, white knit gloves, and a red
box cutter on the living room floor after the alleged attack. Rogers
said the gloves didn’t belong to her, but investigators determined that
much of the DNA found inside the glove was Rogers’, and that none of it
came from a male.
Peschong said investigators also discovered that Rogers deleted numerous
text messages she had sent the evening of the alleged attack, and that
she bought cotton gloves, a box cutter and zip ties from an Ace Hardware
Store in Lincoln on July 17. All of the items were later found in her
house, he said.
She also sent a photo of a cross-shaped cut on her chest to a friend a few days before the reported attack, Peschong said.
Investigators say they found no apparent sign of a struggle in the
living room where Rogers said she was attacked, and no blood on the
sheets where the cutting allegedly took place. An FBI forensic
pathologist concluded that Rogers either cut herself, or allowed someone
else to do it.
Peschong said the department spent thousands of dollars investigating
the case, but he stressed that the case will not undermine the
department’s trust in people who report hate crimes.
“The FBI, the Bureau of Fire Prevention and the Lincoln Police
Department have spent an exorbitant amount of time and personnel
resources investigating this,” he said. “We aggressively investigated
this. Every day since this incident has happened, there have been
investigators working on trying to identify who these assailants were.”
but, but, that is what she does best.
Quoting momof31995:
Quoting sweet-a-kins:
Did you know this was a deadly year for anti gay hate crimes?
You only post about these made up ones...but never the real ones
I guess they don't deserve your attention
I am sure you would prefer that no one ever hear these stories. If you want everyone to hear about the real hate crimes then post them yourself instead of critisizing what everyone else posts.
Crimes make people skeptical of the real ones...
Quoting sweet-a-kins:
Did you know this was a deadly year for anti gay hate crimes?
You only post about these made up ones...but never the real ones
I guess they don't deserve your attention
Quoting momof31995:
Quoting sweet-a-kins:
Did you know this was a deadly year for anti gay hate crimes?
You only post about these made up ones...but never the real ones
I guess they don't deserve your attention
I am sure you would prefer that no one ever hear these stories. If you want everyone to hear about the real hate crimes then post them yourself instead of critisizing what everyone else posts.
You have no idea what I would prefer
Why would i want them hideden?
But the OP doesn't care when a REAL hate crime happens
only a fake one, so she can pretend REAL ONES don't exist
the evil gay folks just lying to get attention...
Quoting candlegal:
but, but, that is what she does best.
Quoting momof31995:
Quoting sweet-a-kins:
Did you know this was a deadly year for anti gay hate crimes?
You only post about these made up ones...but never the real ones
I guess they don't deserve your attention
I am sure you would prefer that no one ever hear these stories. If you want everyone to hear about the real hate crimes then post them yourself instead of critisizing what everyone else posts.
What you do best is try and make gay folks the bad guy....
-
Quoting sweet-a-kins:
Quoting candlegal:
but, but, that is what she does best.
Quoting momof31995:
Quoting sweet-a-kins:
Did you know this was a deadly year for anti gay hate crimes?
You only post about these made up ones...but never the real ones
I guess they don't deserve your attention
I am sure you would prefer that no one ever hear these stories. If you want everyone to hear about the real hate crimes then post them yourself instead of critisizing what everyone else posts.
What you do best is try and make gay folks the bad guy....
-
They are doing a good job of it by lying to get attention.
This was in my city and it just made me sick. :( I was both relieved and mad when it was reported on the news. Relieved that it didn't happen in my city (ranked 5th safest city in the US) but also angry that she wouldmake such a report and scare the community that way.
When they pull stunts like this, they don't need any help.
Quoting sweet-a-kins:
Quoting candlegal:
but, but, that is what she does best.
Quoting momof31995:
Quoting sweet-a-kins:
Did you know this was a deadly year for anti gay hate crimes?
You only post about these made up ones...but never the real ones
I guess they don't deserve your attention
I am sure you would prefer that no one ever hear these stories. If you want everyone to hear about the real hate crimes then post them yourself instead of critisizing what everyone else posts.
What you do best is try and make gay folks the bad guy....
-
Do you find this to be a waste of money?
- candlegal
on Aug. 23, 2012 at 8:00 AM