Pocono News Section

Woman Admits She Lied About Rape

Woman Admits She Lied About Rape - Friday, August 21, 2009 at 5:40PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Friday, Aug 21, 2009 @ 05:40pm EST
EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - A student takes back her story about being raped on campus. A woman claimed she was assaulted at East Stroudsburg University last week. But this week the 22 year old told police she made it all up.

Students have been walking around the ESU campus in fear. Last week a woman told officers a man raped her in a parking lot there in broad daylight. Student Shelo Roman said, "It made me scared to go out and just hang out with my friends like on the streets and stuff."

The woman said she was walking in the parking lot area, called "The Pit", when the man came up to her with a knife, dragged her into this wooded area and sexually assaulted her.

But police now say the woman lied. There was no man, no knife, no rape. ESU Police Chief Robin Olson said, "We're happy to know that things didn't occur on University property. We're happy to know it didn't occur at all."

University Police, Local Police and State Police all helped with the investigation. Olson said, "We utilized a lot of manpower and resources."

Police say the woman lied because of personal problems that include school struggles. Olson said, "It's frustrating to know an individual would go to that length to make up that big of a story."

ESU Senior Joseph Termine said, "Accusations like that do nothing but - they hinder people from believing when it actually does happen. And that's a big issue too."

Students feel better knowing there's not a rapist on the loose and police feel they've practiced the skills they need to deal with any real assaults in the future.

Police are considering filing a charge of making a false report against the woman.