Girl, family apologize for rape hoax
- added October 12, 2008
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The girl who cried wolf in the Palos Heights rape case has agreed to do community service as penance, her attorney said Saturday as the public reacted with a mixture of sympathy and outrage to news that a hoax was behind one of the Southland’s biggest criminal investigations.
Police officially closed their investigation into the alleged Sept. 16 abduction and rape of the 17-year-old Stagg High School senior Friday afternoon after the girl confessed to fabricating the story.
Her family released a statement offering their “deepest apologies” to the community Friday. Rumors that her story was untrue had circulated openly for two weeks.
Her original allegation that she had been kidnapped from T.J. Grinders sandwich shop in the 12200 block of South Harlem Avenue and subjected to a three-hour sexual ordeal at knifepoint by an “olive-skinned” man prompted an estimated $250,000 police probe, provoked widespread fear and stoked anti-Arab sentiment in the diverse neighborhood.
Racial fallout ‘unintentional’
Speaking Saturday, her family’s attorney, Martin Dolan, said the girl and her family “understand the anger that this has caused.”
In an apparent reference to the anti-Arab feelings stirred by her false claims, Dolan said the family was particularly sorry “for any ill feelings this has caused against particular ethnic groups,” stressing that the fallout was “entirely unintentional.”
Once the girl, who is “suffering from some pretty serious emotional problems” has completed counselling and is “back on her feet,” she will volunteer with the village, Dolan said.
“The family is extremely remorseful,” he said. “This was an immature kid who made a very big error of judgement and never intended for this to rise to the level it did.”
Police accepted the offer of community service when the girl confessed Friday, Dolan said.
Detective Dave Delaney said he believed the family — who were not at home Friday night or Saturday — were “doing everything they can to make this thing right.”
Police officially closed their investigation into the alleged Sept. 16 abduction and rape of the 17-year-old Stagg High School senior Friday afternoon after the girl confessed to fabricating the story.
Her family released a statement offering their “deepest apologies” to the community Friday. Rumors that her story was untrue had circulated openly for two weeks.
Her original allegation that she had been kidnapped from T.J. Grinders sandwich shop in the 12200 block of South Harlem Avenue and subjected to a three-hour sexual ordeal at knifepoint by an “olive-skinned” man prompted an estimated $250,000 police probe, provoked widespread fear and stoked anti-Arab sentiment in the diverse neighborhood.
Racial fallout ‘unintentional’
Speaking Saturday, her family’s attorney, Martin Dolan, said the girl and her family “understand the anger that this has caused.”
In an apparent reference to the anti-Arab feelings stirred by her false claims, Dolan said the family was particularly sorry “for any ill feelings this has caused against particular ethnic groups,” stressing that the fallout was “entirely unintentional.”
Once the girl, who is “suffering from some pretty serious emotional problems” has completed counselling and is “back on her feet,” she will volunteer with the village, Dolan said.
“The family is extremely remorseful,” he said. “This was an immature kid who made a very big error of judgement and never intended for this to rise to the level it did.”
Police accepted the offer of community service when the girl confessed Friday, Dolan said.
Detective Dave Delaney said he believed the family — who were not at home Friday night or Saturday — were “doing everything they can to make this thing right.”
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