Crystal Mangum Admits She Lied About 2006 Duke Lacrosse Case
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Crystal Mangum, who previously accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her in 2006, has admitted she made up the story. Mangum, who is currently in prison for a different crime, revealed this in an interview on the podcast “Let’s Talk with Kat.”
In 2006, Crystal Mangum was working as an exotic dancer and claimed that David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann attacked her at a party thrown by Duke lacrosse players.
Her accusations sparked a big national debate about issues like race, class, and gender. Later, the charges were dropped when it was found that the prosecutor, Mike Nifong, didn’t share important evidence that proved the men were innocent. Nifong was removed from his job in 2007.
During her interview, Crystal Mangum said she lied in court by saying the men raped her when they didn’t. She expressed regret for her actions, explaining that she lied because she wanted people to notice and support her, instead of finding worth in herself through her faith.
“I wanted validation from people and not from God…and that was wrong when God already loved me for who I was,” she said.
Crystal Mangum, now 46, is in prison for the murder of her boyfriend in 2011 and won’t be released until 2026. She hopes that the men she accused can forgive her.
“I hurt my brothers,” she admitted. “I want them to know that I love them and they didn’t deserve it and I hope they can forgive me.”
Neither Evans nor Seligmann has commented on Mangum’s recent statements.