Is The Duke Rape Story Unraveling?

That’s the question Tom Bevan, Executive Editor at RealClearPolitics asked Tuesday. A sharp analyst, Bevan picked up on something I hadn’t noticed or heard anyone else mention. Here it is:

There's probably no better way to get a feel for what's been happening in the Duke University lacrosse team rape story than to read a series of revised news alerts on the case issued by the Durham Police's Crimestoppers unit.

An initial release sent out April 3 which offered cash rewards for tips about the case read: "The victim was sodomized, raped, assaulted and robbed. This horrific crime sent shock waves throughout our community."

Yesterday (Monday-JinC) at 11:16am, according to the Raleigh News & Observer, Crimestoppers issued a revised version of the same news release which dropped the entire second sentence about a "horrific crime" and also added a qualifier to the first: "The victim alleges that she was sodomized, raped, assaulted and robbed." [emphasis added]

A mere eighteen minutes later a third revision was issued, changing the word "victim" to "complainant."

The evolving facts in the case seem to not only warrant those revisions but also to suggest that the case may be in the process of unraveling.

Now tonight, Thursday, the Associated Press is reports:

A woman who claims she was raped by members of Duke University's lacrosse team was described as "just passed-out drunk" by one of the first police officers to see her, according to a recording of radio traffic released Thursday.

The conversation between the officer and a police dispatcher took place about 1:30 a.m. March 14, about five minutes after a grocery store security guard called 911 to report a woman in the parking lot who would not get out of someone else's car.

The officer gave the dispatcher the police code for an intoxicated person. When asked whether the woman needed medical help, the officer said: "She's breathing and appears to be fine. She's not in distress. She's just passed out drunk."

Interesting times, yes?

And then there are all those questions about lack of IDs more than four weeks after the alleged attack.

And once we get them answered, we can move on and ask about Kim, the second dancer. What has she said, if anything?

This weekend I plan to work on an “events so far with time line” document. I hope to have it ready by Monday.