DPS investigates rape accusation
Justin Weinrich and Vanessa Hernandez
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: News
The Department of Public Safety is investigating accusations of the rape of a female student on the night of Sept. 27 in Ryle Hall.
Tom Johnson, director of Public Safety, said Public Safety received a call at 3:35 a.m. Sept. 28 alleging sexual assault Johnson said Public Safety has identified a principal suspect. A source close to the accuser said the woman did not know the suspect in question well.
The source said the accuser did not alert her to what happened until later in the evening.
"I didn't know anything was wrong," she said. "I didn't find out until later that night. She acted normal."
The source said she was shocked when the accuser revealed to her what occurred.
"No one ever thinks something like that would happen," she said. " ... This can happen anywhere. It's kind of a shock that it can happen in [your] own room."
The source said she and the accuser went to the Northeast Regional Medical Center at 1:30 a.m..
A hospital employee reported the crime to Public Safety, and said the accuser returned to her room at 4 a.m. She said the accuser was reclusive for two days before returning to class.
The source said the accuser does not plan to press formal charges in order to keep the incident shielded from the public.
Johnson said the nature of the crime restricts the amount of information Public Safety can release.
"It's in the investigative stages, so there's not a whole lot we can share," Johnson said.
Johnson said that because the suspect knew the accuser, the incident is considered an acquaintance rape. He said this is similar to other recent rape accusations.
"We had two on our most recent crime report from 2003," he said. "Basically, those were acquaintance rapes also."
Brian Krylowicz, director of University Counseling Services, said this form of rape is harmful to the victim in ways different from rape by a stranger.
"Acquaintance rape is extremely detrimental in that the victim oftentimes cannot go forth and get support from those who would normally provide it," he said.
Krylowicz said acquaintance rape impacts people on a different level.
"With a stranger, in the traditional rape concept, that was a bad person, but in this situation, this person may have been viewed as a good person, but the situation may have altered their perception of them," he said.
Johnson said Public Safety is conducting interviews with people in any way associated with the crime.
"Anybody that we could find that might have some info that would be helpful to us develop leads, that kind of thing," he said. "If we find somebody that we think might be able to get us info, we'll try and talk to them."
Johnson said Public Safety's first priority in cases of rape is the physical and mental well-being of the accuser.
"The first thing we want to make sure is that the person is safe, and if they need any medical treatment, they get that," he said. "After that, it's evidence-gathering and an interview process and an investigation of the facts of the case. Plus, we also make sure if the person needs any counseling or help from Victim Support Services, they get that help."
Johnson said Public Safety will leave the decision to press charges in the hands of the accuser and will assist the accuser in bringing a formal case to the county prosecutor's office.
"We do as much as possible to put that in their control," Johnson said. "That's one of the ways someone goes on with their life, is make decisions how to handle the case as much as possible."
Johnson said the penalty for rape under Missouri law is a prison term of five years to life.
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Tom Johnson, director of Public Safety, said Public Safety received a call at 3:35 a.m. Sept. 28 alleging sexual assault Johnson said Public Safety has identified a principal suspect. A source close to the accuser said the woman did not know the suspect in question well.
The source said the accuser did not alert her to what happened until later in the evening.
"I didn't know anything was wrong," she said. "I didn't find out until later that night. She acted normal."
The source said she was shocked when the accuser revealed to her what occurred.
"No one ever thinks something like that would happen," she said. " ... This can happen anywhere. It's kind of a shock that it can happen in [your] own room."
The source said she and the accuser went to the Northeast Regional Medical Center at 1:30 a.m..
A hospital employee reported the crime to Public Safety, and said the accuser returned to her room at 4 a.m. She said the accuser was reclusive for two days before returning to class.
The source said the accuser does not plan to press formal charges in order to keep the incident shielded from the public.
Johnson said the nature of the crime restricts the amount of information Public Safety can release.
"It's in the investigative stages, so there's not a whole lot we can share," Johnson said.
Johnson said that because the suspect knew the accuser, the incident is considered an acquaintance rape. He said this is similar to other recent rape accusations.
"We had two on our most recent crime report from 2003," he said. "Basically, those were acquaintance rapes also."
Brian Krylowicz, director of University Counseling Services, said this form of rape is harmful to the victim in ways different from rape by a stranger.
"Acquaintance rape is extremely detrimental in that the victim oftentimes cannot go forth and get support from those who would normally provide it," he said.
Krylowicz said acquaintance rape impacts people on a different level.
"With a stranger, in the traditional rape concept, that was a bad person, but in this situation, this person may have been viewed as a good person, but the situation may have altered their perception of them," he said.
Johnson said Public Safety is conducting interviews with people in any way associated with the crime.
"Anybody that we could find that might have some info that would be helpful to us develop leads, that kind of thing," he said. "If we find somebody that we think might be able to get us info, we'll try and talk to them."
Johnson said Public Safety's first priority in cases of rape is the physical and mental well-being of the accuser.
"The first thing we want to make sure is that the person is safe, and if they need any medical treatment, they get that," he said. "After that, it's evidence-gathering and an interview process and an investigation of the facts of the case. Plus, we also make sure if the person needs any counseling or help from Victim Support Services, they get that help."
Johnson said Public Safety will leave the decision to press charges in the hands of the accuser and will assist the accuser in bringing a formal case to the county prosecutor's office.
"We do as much as possible to put that in their control," Johnson said. "That's one of the ways someone goes on with their life, is make decisions how to handle the case as much as possible."
Johnson said the penalty for rape under Missouri law is a prison term of five years to life.