Duke lacrosse rape accuser charged with attempted murder, arson

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DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — The woman who falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape nearly four years ago has been charged with attempted murder, arson and other counts after a fight with her boyfriend, police said.

Crystal Mangum, 31, was arrested late Wednesday on charges including assaulting her boyfriend, Durham police said in a press release.

Durham County jail records indicate she also was charged with identity theft, communicating threats, damage to property, resisting an officer and misdemeanor child abuse. A judge ordered that she remain in jail on a $1 million bond. Mangum had no attorney listed Thursday.

Authorities released the audio of a 911 call in which a girl who said she was Mangum’s 9-year-old daughter called for help.

Police said they found Mangum and Milton Walker fighting when they arrived at the home just before midnight. Mangum then went into a bathroom and set some clothes on fire in a bathtub, police said.

The single-story wood duplex had heavy smoke damage, but no one was hurt, according to a Durham fire department press release. Three children were in the home at the time, police said.

Mangum told police that she was attacked at a March 2006 Duke lacrosse team party where she was hired to perform as a stripper. The state attorney general’s office later concluded there was no credible evidence an attack ever occurred.

The state’s investigation found there was no DNA, witness accounts or other evidence that confirmed Mangum’s story.

Former Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong was later disbarred for more than two dozen violations of professional conduct rules in his handling of the case. He spent one night in jail for lying to a judge.