Duke Lacrosse Accuser Charged

Accuser in Duke lacrosse case is charged with attempted murder

(Raleigh) News & Observer

Posted: Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010

DURHAM - Durham police have charged Cyrstal Gail Mangum with attempted first-degree murder. Mangum is the woman who wrongly accused three Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006.

Crystal Gail Mangum, 31, and her boyfriend, Milton Walker, had an altercation, according to a police news release.

Mangum set clothing on fire in the bathroom tub in a bathroom located in the middle of the apartment. The apartment sustained heavy smoke damage, according to the Durham Fire Department.

Mangum reportedly filled the bathtub with clothes and set fire to it. Three children and the two adults were evacuated from the apartment at 2220 Lincoln St.

The police and fire department have given several different times when the incident occurred. A police spokesman said it occurred at 11:55 p.m., and according to jail records, Mangum was brought in at 4:52 a.m. But police said in a news release earlier today that the incident occurred at 12:55 p.m. on Wednesday, while the fire department wrote in a news release that they responded to the call this morning at 4:56 a.m.

Police charged Mangum with attempted first-degree murder, five counts of arson, simple assault; identity theft; communicating threats; damage to property; resisting, delay and obstruction; and three counts of child endangerment.

In a news release from Durham police sent this morning, the attempted murder charge was not listed. But the Durham Sheriff's Department Web site lists it as one of the charges against Mangum.

In March 2006, Mangum accused three men of sexually assaulting her at a Duke lacrosse party. State Attorney General Roy Cooper said in April 2007 that there was no evidence of an assault of any kind at the party and dismissed the case against the lacrosse players. A few months later, Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong resigned after the State Bar charged him with 20 ethics violations.

I hope she gets some real time out of this.