In a recent revelation, Crystal Mangum, a former exotic dancer and convicted murderer, has admitted to fabricating rape allegations against Duke lacrosse players in 2006.
In a candid interview, Mangum confessed, "I made up a story that wasn't true because I wanted validation from people and not from God.".
As reported by The Post Millennial, Mangum, who is currently serving a prison sentence for the murder of her boyfriend, made this confession during an appearance on "Let's Talk With Kat." She expressed remorse for her actions, stating, "I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn't, and that was wrong, and I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me."
In the spring of 2006, Mangum falsely accused three Duke lacrosse players, David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann, of sexually assaulting her during a team party. This accusation sparked a national controversy, with the alleged incident becoming a focal point for discussions on race and gender politics. The allegations were extensively covered in a Rolling Stone article by Janet Reitman, which was later retracted in 2015. The incident led to 88 Duke professors signing a letter in support of Mangum and her claims.
In the wake of these allegations, Richard Brodhead, the then-president of Duke University, accepted the resignation of Mike Pressler, the head men's lacrosse coach, and suspended the remainder of the season. The accused players were also suspended from the university, despite Brodhead's plea for the public not to prejudge the case.
Mike Nifong, the former Durham County District Attorney and lead prosecutor in the case, was adamant in a CBS News interview in March 2006 that "There's no doubt a sexual assault took place" and that it was "racially motivated." However, all three players were eventually exonerated. Despite her false testimony, Mangum escaped perjury charges due to concerns about her mental health, and the statute of limitations for perjury in North Carolina, which is two years, has since expired.
Nifong was disbarred in 2007 by the North Carolina State Bar for lying in court and withholding DNA evidence that could have cleared the defendants. The players subsequently sued Brodhead and Duke University, alleging that the president made false statements and conspired to deny them a fair trial. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount.
In the aftermath of the scandal, Evans graduated from Duke in 2006, while Seligmann transferred to Brown University and Finnerty to Loyola University Maryland. Mangum, in her 2008 book "Last Dance for Grace: The Crystal Mangum Story," wrote, "I will never say that nothing at all happened that night. In 2011, she was indicted for first-degree murder and two counts of larceny and is currently serving a 14 to 18-year prison sentence.
This was not Mangum's first encounter with such allegations. At the age of 14, in 1993, she claimed to have been kidnapped and raped by three men. However, the case was not pursued as she claimed she feared for her life. This pattern of false accusations and the subsequent fallout underscores the importance of thorough investigation and due process in such sensitive matters.
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