It could be the homosexual version of the Tawana Brawley case. In Lincoln, Nebraska, former University of Nebraska women’s basketball star Charlie Rogers crawled to a neighbor’s house covered in blood with anti-gay slurs of “dyke” and “c*nt” curved into her skin. Her case became a rallying point for the community which is debating a “fairness ordinance” to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination. However police now say that she faked the attack.
Rogers, 33, told the police that three masked men broke into her home and proceeded to torture her by cutting a cross into her chest, cutting the front and back of her thighs and buttocks, and carving anti-gay slurs on her arms and abdomen. They then tried to burn down the house and left.
However, evidence began to pile up that contradicted or implicated Rogers. First, the attack occurred on July 22nd. However, on July 18th, Rogers stated on a Facebook posting that “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.”
Second, she sent a photo of a cross-shaped cut on her chest to a friend — allegedly days before the reported attack. She later reportedly deleted messages that she sent from the day of the attack.
Third, she claimed the gloves found at the scene were not hers but her DNA was found inside and none of the DNA inside the glove was from a man.
Fourth, police found that she had purchased a box cutter, gloves, and zip ties from an Ace Hardware store days before the reported attack (she later admitted to the purchases except the gloves).
Finally, there was no evidence of a struggle or even blood on the sheets where she said the attack occurred.
She is now facing a false police report charge. The ordinance passed unanimously but conservative groups have been petitioning to have it rescinded.
Rogers is something of a legend as a female basketball star from the University of Nebraska, which still posts her stats and picture. That distinguished record may soon be eclipsed by a less inspiring record of a different kind if she is convicted in the case. Police say that they spent thousands on the investigation and gay rights groups have commended the police on conducting a professional and unbiased investigation into the case.
Source: CBS
Malisha, I mostly agree w/ what you said. Our differences are minor. But Mr. Turley’s Tawana Brawley analogy is tough to argue w/ IMO.
Nick, no problem with anything you have said; I’m just continuing a discussion. Also, no need for my having said this but I do so to keep myself free of inferences I haven’t implied. 🙂
Leejcaroll, thanks, you got me right.
Nick, here’s what I mean by what I said:
SHe is a gay woman who appears to me to be terribly troubled in a way that has nothing to do with her sexual preference. Plenty of straight women are terribly troubled in a way that has nothing to do with their heterosexuality! If we were to concentrate on their sexual preference when we learn about them having done something illegal to draw attention to themselves — even if they used their sexuality as an excuse for the attention-getting illegal behavior — we would be missing the whole point by a mile. This woman is Lesbian, OK? And from the look of what she is alleged to have done, she is doing a big “poor me, look at poor me, help poor me, love poor me,” based on her real sexual preference and the realities of the society around her, BUT she is lying about what has actually taken place, and she is lying NOT because she is a Lesbian but because she is a liar, and probably, because she is mentally disturbed.
I would bet that the best response is punishment for her wrongdoing (It IS wrong to do what she is alleged to have done) coupled with mental health services as needed AND LESS ATTENTION. DO NOT TEACH HER THAT BAD BEHAVIOR WILL GET HER MORE AND MORE ATTENTION!!
Mea culpa. What’s my fine? I just like chocolate ice cream and projected that. I see far worse projections by some of the characters here. I hope my faux pas didn’t offend you or cause you any emotional distress. I am @ your mercy. Can we end this right here, please?
Ah Nick, people have suggested you do not really read what others wrote but put your spin on it. I never mentioned ice cream.
leej, Your analogy is flawed logic but I do agree w/ your ice cream choice.
Nick, Malisha shows empathy (she certainly does not need my defending of course). In the context of what she did it looks like attention getting, her excuse (explanation) of the gay community issue is just a reason for the behavior. I want chocolate so i go to a store and steal it and say the cashier beat me up. The chocolate becomes a negligible part of the story.
Malisha, How could tou call it irrelevant when the “victim” made it the reason she was attacked? Deal w/ the reality, not your world view. Geez!
Give this less attention is my best advice. This is attention-getting behavior. It occurs to me that her being a lesbian is a minor part of the picture, almost irrelevant.
Fortunately for all she did not give, from what I read, any evidence that would lead to another person being mistakenly arrested. That would have been much more serious.
What she did is clearly wrong yet a part of me feels sorry for her.
All that’s missing is, “What’s the frequency, Kenneth.”
Desperation of that sort is a drug like state of mind produced within the dark and dank areas of the amygdala.
Maybe she was counting on the Lincoln police being as competent as the Sanford, Florida police. If that were the case, she might have gotten away with it.
Drop her off, at the nearest mental facility…….
If we can join em….. Make it up……
Whoops! Missed the truth by that much! Stupid lady!
Really? Really! Really . . . sad that you thought fabricating misdeeds against the homosexual community would help in any way when there are plenty of legitimate cases of discriminatory bigoted crimes to use as examples and catalysts for change. In your zeal to do something good, you let your ego, and make no mistake your motivation was you, get in the way of the promotion of equity. Sorry, Charlie! Being a catalyst for change doesn’t require you being the center of attention. The adage that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions doesn’t need any more examples.
Is that Wayne Gretzky?