|
|||||
|
Authorities suspend investigation into beach rape allegation Authorities suspend investigation into beach rape allegationNo charges will be filed in the investigation into the rape allegation of the 15-year-old girl found extremely intoxicated after an underage drinking party at a Neptune Beach house. In a press conference Tuesday morning, State Attorney Harry Shorstein announced there would
The teen was found intoxicated and unconscious at the Seagate Avenue ramp in June. She told police she been sexually assaulted by several people attending the nearby party. She was a houseguest of the family who rented the home where the party took place. At least 40 students, all teenagers and mostly students from The Bolles School, attended the party held at the oceanfront home rented by the parents of one partygoer. The two parents told police they were upstairs and knew nothing about the drinking downstairs or the attack. Neptune Beach police had little cooperation in the case at the beginning with teens and parents contacting attorneys before being interviewed. However, as the case continued more and more came forward for interviews. DNA evidence of one primary suspect, a 17-year-old boy, showed he had some type of contact with the girl. But investigators could not prove how that contact occurred. "The DNA evidence suggested contact between the 15-year-old and the potential suspect, but that contact could be consistent with vaginal contact, could be consistent with oral contact or could be consistent with non-sexual contact," said Shorstein. The rape case has been suspended not dropped. If further evidence in found in the future, the case could be resumed. There is a minimum three-year statute of limitations on the rape allegation. |
      |
||||
