Police: Woman Who Claimed to Be Victim of Hate Crime Made the Whole Thing Up
Charlie Rogers galvanized LGBT communities across the country after she claimed to have been a victim of a vicious hate crime perpetrated by three masked men that involved an anti-gay slur being carved into her skin while she was tied up with zip ties inside her own home.
Now, just under a month later, the Nebraska woman is on the opposite side of the law, having been charged with making a false report — a misdemeanor she pleaded not guilty to this afternoon.
According to authorities in Lincoln, there is significant evidence to indicate that the alleged hate crime never took place.
Police say there were no signs of struggle, and no blood on the bed where Rogers claims she rolled around after being cut. As for the cuts, they are superficial and symmetrical, and appear to have been either self-inflicted, or administered with consent, according to a forensic pathologist assisting the FBI with its investigation.
Additionally, white knit gloves and a red box cutter found on Rogers' living room floor have been traced back to Rogers with the help of DNA testing and a hardware store clerk who recognized the 33-year-old as the person who purchased the items, along with zip ties and extra blades.
Reacting to the shocking turn of events, Lincoln's leading LGBT groups released a statement saying all suspected hate crimes should be investigated to the fullest extent of the law.
"We encourage anyone who has been a victim of a hate crime to contact law enforcement," the coalition said in its statement. "Our recent experience gives us confidence that any crime in Lincoln will be thoroughly and fairly investigated."
If convicted, Rogers faces up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
