Statements or publications from Duke University faculty groups

Crystal Mangum Admits to False Duke Lacrosse Rape Claims 18 Years Later

Dec 13, 2024, 01:35 AM

Crystal Mangum, the woman at the center of the Duke University lacrosse scandal, has confessed 18 years later to falsely accusing three lacrosse players of rape in 2006. Mangum, who was a stripper hired for a team party, admitted in an interview that she made up the story for validation from others. The accusations led to a national controversy, with the players facing significant legal and public scrutiny before being exonerated. Mangum's false testimony was not prosecuted due to her mental health issues and the statute of limitations on perjury charges in North Carolina. She is currently serving a prison sentence for the second-degree murder of her boyfriend, which she committed in 2013. The lacrosse players, David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann, were all found not guilty, but the case had lasting implications, highlighting issues of due process and media influence in legal proceedings. Duke professors and law school faculty who supported the accusations will forever live in shame.