okay, it seems this case turned out to be exactly what I thought it was.
The reason why I'm so interested in this case, is because I was falsely accused of rape in North Carolina (not Durham), and my family was relentlessly pursued by detectives and police. When my wife wouldn't say what they wanted her to say, they attempted via Social Services to take my kids away. They wouldn't even let my kids go to someone in my large family. It was hell and I'll never view a policemen, DA, or Social Services investigator the same in my life.
I wrote long detailed letters to everyone in the state and then started trying to get the National Media involved - all to no avail. It's a hell that you'll never want to know.
I had an absolutely clean record - nothing, nada. One speeding ticket and nothing else.
When I wouldn't "cooperate" after they jumped in my face and told me I was a violent rapist and it was clear to all, the PD contacted the local paper and they printed an article that I was suspected of rape. They used my address but not my name to comply with N.C. Public records statutes. When that didn't work, Social Services put me out of my house - or my kids were going to be removed. With me being out of the house, they threatened my wife with charges (accessory, abeting, etc.) and calling the paper back to put an article about her suspected involvement. When I still didn't "cooperate" (in their estimation), they told me they were going to my place of employment and having mass interviews to see if any actions at work were consistent to the charges against me. They did go to my work - security and ask for information and video of me entering and leaving work on certain dates. They did speak to my boss. My boss (who knew me, my wife, and kids very well) - called his boss with me sitting right next to him. The Senior Management person was a woman that has known me from projects, but not that well, for years. She didn't know I was sitting right there and she told him that maybe I was a rapist, because we don't know people behind closed doors. He quickly took her off speaker. She told him that they wouldn't support me other than to treat me like everyone else.
The investigators/dectectives used so many unbelievable techniques it was like the twilight zone. They told me that people in my family had implicated me, they told me my kids told Soc. Services things. They told me my wife was trying to get rid of me. Many times I would get out of the car, and the Detectives came out of nowhere. They would get in my face and question me and then later swear I said this when I said no such thing. For instance, they told Social Services that I told them when they caught me off-guard (they were always popping out while I was parking) that I was taking the kids (kidnapping, in effect) and leaving the state. The next moring Social Services was at my house (there investigation was already opened), the social worker and the Head of the local office accusing my wife of planning to flee and they insisted on questioning my kids individually without my wife present (she had to go in the garage). They questioned EVERY neighbor. Motions were filed to take actions to further "protect" my kids by Social Services. Social Services notified us in writing that their plans were to have my children separated in different state facilities until the investigation was completed.
The detective grew tired of my non-compliance (he wanted a confession). He accused me of another crime in the area and told me they had witness (this was the first I had ever heard of this). He mentioned (on the street now) that he had informants that would love to do him a favor.
Being naive and thinking if someone just knew this was going on - they would stop it. I called the chief of Police. He told me that I needn't call him again and that he had full confidence in the investigator that said this due to his "production". At this point, since I was out of the house, they called my wife and demanded to know where I was. Using phones at libraries and public places (like the Fugitive), I called me wife and I told her not to give them any information. I was moving from place to place and trying to stay on camera (ATM's, Work, Businesses) whenever I could, because I became convinced I was being framed for other crimes. I kept a journal of my whereabouts at all times.
My youngest daughter - missing me and not knowing what was going on told her kindergarten teacher that her Dad had taken her to work the night before (she had a Dream). She told the teacher about the Snack or Break room and the white boards that she writes on with markers. Yes, she had been to my work before with my other children to see my office - for brief visits. The school had been alerted by the Police and Social Services. So, the teacher called the number. The police and Social Services descended on the school. A large policemen and a frantic social worker said that my daugher told them that Daddy took her to work during the night (I was not allowed in my house by order). They got her to say that I took her to work "to be alone with her"
I became public enemy number one in the district I lived in and working surreptitiously, while the police were looking for me, I had about 9 people sign affadavits. The after-hours security officers (luckily I worked at a highly secure place) all signed affadavits I had typed up saying that they had NEVER seen me enter or leave the building with a child or children. They stated they were required to make rounds on every floor every hour and they never encountered me with a child. I wanted to get them on record before the police enticed them with job prospects.
Before they took my children away to state institutions, my lawyer (for a substancial fee) brokered a meeting with the number 2 man in Social Services in the state. My wife and I spoke with him and explained that they had hundreds of cameras at my place of employment and it could be easily disproved that I took my daughter into work. I handed over the affadavits and the guy was speechless. He said he certainly was led to believe that my case was something else entirely. He said he was told that we wouldn't cooperate at all, when, in fact, my children had undergone numerous forensic examinations at Medical centers specified by Social Services. When they did subpoena the video from my employer of the night in question, I was allowed back into my house. I still couldn't be alone with my children though pending other investigations. Much later and many dollars poorer the case was dropped. No apologies. In fact, the police came to my house the day after the case was officially dropped (when they knew I was gone) and told my wife that "experts" believe that I was sexual offender and that, most likely, I'm still offending. I called the Police chief and he told me that he recommended I move out of town.
A woman on the next street moved due to the Newspaper report, because she worried for her kids. Another neighbor, when drunk, made a despicable comment to my wife.
I was told I am in a database for life and there is no removing my name totally, but I was assurred that the Database is super secret. Of the 12 houses closest to mine, 11 of those people signed a document, under penalty of perjury saying that they had never seen me act inappropriately in any way.
This will sound odd after writing all that, but I don't like talking about it. I am just trying to educate those that live their lives with the belief that only guilty people are persecuted by the authorities.
What a nightmarish experience, Mike. I'm glad you and your family survived it.
Oh my gosh, Mike. That is a horrendous thing for anyone to go through. Social services can make a person's life hell for the most ridiculous reasons, and then let crack mothers get their kids back. And cops...don't even get me started.
I'm a big law enforcement person but know that cops lie and intimidate every day of the week if they think they have a suspect.
I really don't know what to say except I can see why this case interests you and I'm sorry that you and your family had to experience this nightmare.
My interest is that I know someone who was raped brutally by a stranger, and cases like this make real rape cases more difficult to both prosecute and for the victims to come forward.
God bless you and your family.
Did you move or did you figure the police elsewhere would be as bad?
What a terrible story!
Wow
I have a stepbrother doing 5 years in a VA State Prison for date rape.
When my sister said he was in prison for rape but swears he did not do it, I thought "Yeah right, that's what they all say." His dad married my mom after I had married and left home..there was no close emotional bond, no emotional prejudice towards believing him.
After reading some of the transcripts and the motion for a new trial I could not believe anyone would be convicted with such a flimsy case.
He lived in Harrionsburg, had a girl over one night and they had sex. Took her back to the dorm the next morning and waiting for her was her boyfriend.
He was not even charged until a year later. His mistake was that he did not take this seriously...I think he got his lawyer from the phone book based on legal fees instead of experience.
She claimed a date rape drug, but how in the hell she remembered all of those details (Lord, they did things I never knew exsisted) if she was drugged is beyond me. Her theory was the drug was in the glass of water she asked for. BTW, she had the wherewithall to take her contact lenses out before the sex, drugged no less.
Forensics? Their evidence makes Nifong's look like it was processed at Quantico.
My theory (and I went from not believing him to believing him based on the court records) is that her boyfriend, er, fiance, demanded an explanation and she did what av did, lied like a rug.
He was arrested one year later and went to trial about 6-9 months after. In that time, she had convinced herself it had happened. She was a psychology major at Bridgewaterat the time and now lives in Baltimore.
The motion for a new trial was denied and someone advised him to serve out his time because an appeal would take longer than his sentence and would cost him a fortune.
(Thank God he is in about as safe a prison as can be-nothing like Lorton)
No one in the family has any doubts about his innocence and we are known for being brutally honest with each other at times.
When I say she has convinced herself her story is true, I say it meaning "That bitch actually believes her lies." I am truly angry. But my family has this thing with anger so with a sigh they say "It is so obvious she is lying, but she believes what she is saying."
LOL, that is when I shake my head and wonder if they found me in the pumpkin patch, could we possibly share the same DNA? Anger is a normal emotion, you don't "get over it" you resolve it.
But yes, regardless of what the Nancy Graces and Wendy Murphy's of this world say, women lie. Women lie about rape. The human condition being what it is when someone's back is against the wall they will do one of 2 things, tell the truth or lie. And we all know not everyone choses truth.
Having 3 sons I have been known to dispense a bit of advice. One thing I have always told them:
"If you are ever arrested (and you damned well never be or I will kill you) never, ever talk to the cops. Keep your mouth shut. What you do not understand is that cops can lie to get you to say what they want. It is the way it works. Say I want a lawyer or I want to make a phone call. And for God's sake never talk with your new roomates."
And then I say don't call me. No way, no how am I bonding you out.
Fortunately, I have good kids although my middle son was touch & go for a while. He found out Mom will not bail him out...DUI. I made him sweat it out for about 36 hours. I finally picked up his paycheck, took it to the jail, had the cops give to him to sign, cashed it & he bailed himself out. I didn't pay for a lawyer either..so he had to do 3 weeks at the end of his probation. Oh yeah, did I say I wouldn't lend him his probation fees? I'm a hard ass Mom.
Thanks for sharing and as with Constitution's Grandchild, you help us all remember these are real people whose lives are being destroyed. God bless you always.
I don't know what to say. That is just beyond the pale. Did you ever contact your state senator or anybody like that? Did you have a lawyer the whole time? Did you ever actually get into court? Did you consider suing the accuser?
Are you and your family all back together now? Were you able to keep working, or did you get fired or have to look for lesser work, or what?
What a nightmare!
Sounds like you got hosed. Maybe you should try writing the news papers again. Maybe they might be more interested in your story now.
Painful to read. I can't imagine what it was like to live it.
Mike, you've been through hell. A type of hell I know of too. Blessings to you.
Hope you don't mind my chuckling, here. Talking about it makes ya feel soiled. It brings it all back. And of course, then there's the weird looks people give ya. And how they just kinda move away as though you've got some type of communicable disease they fear catching. Yeah. I know this.
You share it; talk about it, so others might be forewarned and aware. And to become aware of the full extent by which their lives can be adversely affected when the "wrong" people, that is, the "bad people" are in charge.
You know this. I know this.