I suspect it is her brother, else there would have been no reason for the attention. The thing is, even though most assuredly everybody in Durham knows the false accuser is Crystal Gail Mangum, none of the media will actually use her name, so the relevance of the story is lost on most outside readers.
But it is very, very interesting that they published the story. I'm sure the Mangum parents are just livid, as would be the race-baiters at NCCU, since they couldn't help but know the whole town knows Crystal is the false accuser and the name is out there. So, even if this guy isn't related, people will conclude that he is, lol!
If it is her half-brother or cousin, the effect is really still the same.
If the Defense attorneys or the Media, alerted by them, starts saying, look the AV's own cousin is out there, free, after serious violent crimes against women; witnesses have been murdered, etc. - AND look how the Durham PD/DA have treated it. Little or No interest, No Posters, No Crimestoppers, No calls to the Media for help, or press conferences. Why the disparity in treatment/investigation if the DPD/DA care about violence towards women?
I think this is a direct reaction to the Media coverage of the victim's family in the case where the 4 men were executed. Baker/Nifong wanted to know immediately, WHAT ELSE is out there? What else can be used against us in a PR battle to illustrate we are treating these players, this Duke case, differently.
This was strictly preemptive, in my opinion.
They reach out to a sympathetic black woman reporter in Durham that has been in contact with the AV's family from the beginning.
They now have that article laminated and recorded ready to use it as exhibit number 1 to show they are treating that case seriously and are aggressive in all instances of violence towards women, etc. It'll work with the News Corpse too.