Ripley, MS -
Fast Facts
dennis.turner@wreg.com
(Ripley, MS 6/8/2009) A Tippah County woman could face jail time for crying rape when it never really happened.
The initial report put law officers in at least two counties on alert and ran up huge investigative bills, until the victim recanted.
Investigators won't identify the woman but they have a lot to say about the seriousness of the false claim.
The rape report, a few weeks ago, put every law officer in Tippah County, and a few from out out of town on the streets to look for suspects.
Crimestoppers offered a $6,000 reward.
Investigators had just one problem, the report was a lie.
"Just a classic case of the shepherd boy crying wolf. Everybody came to the rescue," said District Attorney Ben Creekmore.
The attack was supposed to have happened in broad daylight in southwest Ripley.
The woman claimed to have walked in on two men burglarizing her house, and said one raped her.
Sources close to the case tell us the woman went to great lengths to make her story believable, right down to some physical evidence.
But investigators became concerned when the woman's very detailed description of events that day, became less detailed when it came to the alleged attack.
"Didn't take them any time at all to figure out this was a fabricated story and none of it actually happened," said Creekmore.
That left officers, asking why. "I'm not at liberty to tell why she did this to anyone at this point in time. She has some serious issues." said her defense attorney, Tony Farese.
Farese added the woman is seeking help in a hospital.
We're told the woman had been under what she considered to be extreme pressure, and that since the incident she's come to understand the serious nature of her actions.
"Oh yes, she's aware of how much trouble law enforcement went to as well as her family and she's ashamed. She's sorry for what she did and she's trying to make it right as best she can." said Farese.
Prosecutors could charge the woman with a felony for making the false report and manipulating evidence, punishable by 10 years in prison.
They say there's an important lesson here, "Â…Not to cry wolf, because in the end, the wolf will get ya," said Creekmore.
The woman has agreed, as part of a proposed plea deal, to seek psychological help and to pay back the law agencies who helped look for her alleged attackers, a bill that totals nearly $6,000.
- Woman Reports Rape
- Woman Recants, Faces Felony Charges
- Ripley Tippah Rape Creekmore Farese false report
dennis.turner@wreg.com
(Ripley, MS 6/8/2009) A Tippah County woman could face jail time for crying rape when it never really happened.
The initial report put law officers in at least two counties on alert and ran up huge investigative bills, until the victim recanted.
Investigators won't identify the woman but they have a lot to say about the seriousness of the false claim.
The rape report, a few weeks ago, put every law officer in Tippah County, and a few from out out of town on the streets to look for suspects.
Crimestoppers offered a $6,000 reward.
Investigators had just one problem, the report was a lie.
"Just a classic case of the shepherd boy crying wolf. Everybody came to the rescue," said District Attorney Ben Creekmore.
The attack was supposed to have happened in broad daylight in southwest Ripley.
The woman claimed to have walked in on two men burglarizing her house, and said one raped her.
Sources close to the case tell us the woman went to great lengths to make her story believable, right down to some physical evidence.
But investigators became concerned when the woman's very detailed description of events that day, became less detailed when it came to the alleged attack.
"Didn't take them any time at all to figure out this was a fabricated story and none of it actually happened," said Creekmore.
That left officers, asking why. "I'm not at liberty to tell why she did this to anyone at this point in time. She has some serious issues." said her defense attorney, Tony Farese.
Farese added the woman is seeking help in a hospital.
We're told the woman had been under what she considered to be extreme pressure, and that since the incident she's come to understand the serious nature of her actions.
"Oh yes, she's aware of how much trouble law enforcement went to as well as her family and she's ashamed. She's sorry for what she did and she's trying to make it right as best she can." said Farese.
Prosecutors could charge the woman with a felony for making the false report and manipulating evidence, punishable by 10 years in prison.
They say there's an important lesson here, "Â…Not to cry wolf, because in the end, the wolf will get ya," said Creekmore.
The woman has agreed, as part of a proposed plea deal, to seek psychological help and to pay back the law agencies who helped look for her alleged attackers, a bill that totals nearly $6,000.
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