Rape Accuser Had Photo ID'd Possible DNA Match

NBC CHANNEL 17 ^ | 5/11/06

[TexKat]

DURHAM, N.C. -- A Duke lacrosse player whose DNA may match tissue found under the fake fingernails of an exotic dancer who claims she was raped was identified in a photo lineup with 90 percent certainty, sources tell NBC-17.

The Durham Herald-Sun reported Thursday tissue found under the accuser's acrylic fingernail came from the same genetic pool and was "consistent" with the bodily makeup of one of 46 lacrosse players who gave DNA samples for testing.

The paper cites several sources and said scientists also ruled out a possible match with any of the other 45 students, according to the sources.

If accurate, the fingernail tissue match would offer the first DNA evidence potentially linking the dancer and an alleged attacker.

But because a complete DNA pattern was not obtained from the tissue, it was not possible to match it with the nearly 100 percent certainty that DNA results usually offer, the sources added.

90 Percent Certainty

Now, NBC-17 has learned that the player is not one of the two already accused in the case -- Reade Seligmann, of Essex Fells, N.J., and Collin Finnerty, of Garden City, N.Y. He is, however, a player that the alleged rape victim picked out in a police lineup with 90 percent certainty.

The 27-year-old North Carolina Central University student told police she was beaten and raped by three lacrosse players while she performed at a March 13 team party. She said she clawed at the players in an effort to fight them off.

Never Applied?

Defense attorneys claim, however, that nothing about the reported possible DNA match means anything to the case if you look at the type of fingernails, where they were found, and if you look at a picture of the accuser's hand shortly after she arrived at the party.

According to defense attorneys, police found four stick-on acrylic fingernails in a trashcan at 610 Buchanan Street, the house where the party took place. The tissue connected to the possible DNA match was found under one of those fingernails.

But defense attorneys said the third player accused lived at the house and it is no surprise that trace amounts of his DNA could be found inside his own trashcan. They also said they don't believe the type of fingernails that were found -- the kind that are applied with an adhesive strip -- actually ripped off during an attack. They don't believe the fingernails were ever applied and they say they have pictures to prove it.

NBC-17 has seen a picture of the dancer's hand at the house when she performed her dance routine. It appears that long, fake fingernails were on some of her fingers in that photo, but not all of them.

Other photos show what defense lawyers believe is red fingernail polish on the walls of the house and on the railing outside the house. They believe the accuser was painting and applying her nails while at the party.

Defense attorneys admit that none of them have seen the DNA report the Herald Sun article is based upon, but they said if District Attorney Mike Nifong has the DNA report, their clients are entitled to see it.

Accuser's Father Responds

The accuser's father called reports of a DNA break in the case long overdue.

"I wasn't surprised to hear that. I feel like we should have learned it before," he said.

Kim Roberts, another dancer who performed at the party where the alleged attack took place, paid an emotional visit to the accuser's parents on Thursday.

"It was real emotional -- she was crying, my wife was crying. She said that she was sorry she left (outside) the house before my daughter did," the accuser's father said.

Authorities said they would know what the DNA shows by early next week.

[pepperhead]

I hate Alan!

He makes my stomach turn.

[Repub4bush]

LOL, I have been sick all week and not smoking and decided to quit but i had to just have one too!

[Howlin]

Why are we so far ahead of these fools on TV???

[Publius22]

He said the man whose semen was inside her WAS KNOWN TO THE POLICE! Sounds like someone w/a police record, doesn't it?

Why would anyone else be tested unless it was her boyfriend?

[Repub4bush]

We have IQ's over "12"...LOL

[RecallMoran]

How else would they be able to look at a sperm sample and know who it was? Not everyone out there has a DNA record that the police have on file.

Congratulations to this thread. It was right on the mark. The only thing not surmised was the "extra" semen. Or that the boys HANDED the fingernails to the police!!

[TommyDale]

Wouldn't it be amazing if the semen was from the cop who gave her the ride to the mental ward? I think I mentioned that a couple of weeks ago. Where was she between 12:41 and 3 am?

[Howlin]

Oh, Alan is still holding on to that "85 percent of these cases aren't tried with DNA."

What is he talking about?????

Cheshire said that the guy she said had a moustche has NEVER had one!

[toldyou]

When I was switching channels, FOX and MSNBC had only the lawyers pictured. Grace's channel had a small headshot of Cheshire while panning the house at Buchanan. They zoomed in constantly to the sign posted there, at one time, that said, "Please pray for peace. I was called a n______ as I passed by....."

[Repub4bush]

Alan meet Nancy....LOL

[Carolinamom]

"There was no rape in that house."

[pepperhead]

Where is Hannity? Why let Alan do this whole segment since he has been so biased?

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Smoking in the girl's room tonight..I was puffing with you!

[maggief]

Actually I am rather disappointed only one non-LAX semen specimen was found.

[Howlin]

Sometimes I really wish I had sworn not to smoke in the new house!

[TexKat]

Defense attorneys for members of the Duke lacrosse team at a Friday evening press conference.

Defense Attorneys In Duke Case Respond To Second DNA Report

POSTED: 5:26 pm EDT May 12, 2006 UPDATED: 8:52 pm EDT May 12, 2006

DURHAM, N.C. -- A defense attorney in the Duke lacrosse investigation said Friday that a second round of DNA test results shows a partial match to members of the team on one item, but the report found no conclusive ties to the accuser.

Defense attorney Joe Cheshire said at an early evening press conference that a single source was linked to DNA during the testing, but it was identified by Durham police as an unidentified male who was not on the team.

Cheshire said that the partial match to Duke lacrosse team members was made from a sample taken from a fake fingernail found in a trash can inside the home where the accuser alleges the rape took place during a party on March 13.

District Attorney Mike Nifong began distributing a second round of DNA test results to defense attorneys in the Duke lacrosse investigation late Friday afternoon.

As reported Thursday, the results show a partial DNA match with one of the lacrosse players who has not yet been charged.

The private lab tested finger nails, hair samples and other pieces of possible evidence. The report has scientific data, which defense attorneys began reading Friday afternoon to determine if there are any other matches involving the alleged rape. Defense attorneys said the first round of DNA results did not show a match.

Two players, Colin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, have been indicted in the investigation.

The grand jury is scheduled to meet Monday, and Nifong will likely seek the indictment of the third suspect with the new report.

[Carolinamom]

the semen donor is NOT a NCCU student. Hmmmmmmm.

[Repub4bush]

I just quickly called my Captian friend with the Greensboro PD, he was busy and couldn't talk but was watching presser from his office and said this case is Toast! IHO...LOL

[Howlin]

You were hoping she was like Kate Farber???

I have to ping sinkspur; he goes nuts when her name is mentioned!

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Wonder what Ted and Gweta will talk about tonight ?