UCI Rape Tale Was Lie, Woman Admits
A woman who said she saw a gang rape last month at a park in the middle of UC Irvine admitted Tuesday that she made it up, campus officials reported.
The student told UCI police she saw four men raping two women about 2:30 p.m. April 23 at Aldrich Park, which is generally well used by students and others.
She said she did not report the crime until four days later because she thought the victims would have come forward, according to police.
Her report alarmed students and staff members of the university, where police had passed out flyers asking for help with information about the assaults.
Students held a rally Thursday to provide information about sexual assaults. About 150 people participated in the event, said Dennis Powers, acting chief of UCI police.
Tuesday morning, the woman decided to confess to an administrator, Powers said. She is expected to tell campus police this week why she fabricated the report and why she is recanting her story now, Powers said.
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