Audrie Pott–the 15-year old California girl who committed suicide last year after discovering a group of boys had sexually assaulted her while she was passed out at a party and then posted photos of it online–brings to mind the Steubenville rape case. Both girls involved had been drinking while at a party, and both were raped while they were unconscious. Both cases had far-reaching effects in their communities. But now, new information has come to light that sets the cases apart: a female has been accused of involvement in Pott’s assault.
The 15-year old girl has been named in the Pott family’s lawsuit as someone who was in the room at the time of the incident, encouraging the boys to take off Audrie’s clothes and to write in marker on her private parts. They took photos of the assault which were later spread online, and then the girl allegedly buttoned Audrie’s shorts and covered her up, leaving her alone in the room. The girl–named only as Jane C. in the lawsuit because of her age–reportedly lied about her involvement in the assault.
Audrie’s Facebook account provided information for investigators after her death, as messages were found recounting her recollection of the night and the fact that she was being bullied.
“I have a reputation for a night I don’t even remember and the whole school knows,” she wrote in one Facebook message to a friend. “I cried when I found out what they did.”
The three boys involved have been charged with sexual battery, dissemination of child pornography and possession of child pornography and are on house arrest as they await trial.
Image: Facebook