CHARLOTTE — A woman who attended the Carolina Panthers game Oct. 29 in uptown Charlotte and said she was sexually assaulted while walking alone after the game is not moving forward with the case, Channel 9 learned Thursday.
She has not been working with detectives despite repeated attempts, police said.
There has been no evidence supporting the woman’s claims, however, the investigation is ongoing, according to CMPD.
UPDATE on alleged rape Uptown.
— Allison Latos (@AllisonWSOC9) November 19, 2020
Per sources- The woman refuses to move forward w/ the case & will no longer work with detectives, despite their repeated attempts. @CMPD has yet to find evidence supporting her statement but they’re still investigating. https://t.co/DXBx9FI9n3
Investigators said in October the woman was walking alone in the 500 block of Morehead Street around 12:30 a.m. following the Panthers game against Atlanta when a stranger approached her and raped her.
“It shocks the conscience. It gets your attention. It’s gotten our attention. We’ve got the best detectives working on this with urgency,” said Rob Tufano with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department at that time.
Police said the woman had attended the Panthers game.
Officials said after the alleged incident that the woman got separated from her group when she was pulled behind a building and into a wooded area next to the railroad bridge and attacked. They don’t believe the stranger had any weapons.
“It’s very nerve-wracking just living in the area and going to Panthers games myself. I typically try not to walk alone. When I do, it’s with my dog,” said Charlotte resident Emily Stewart.
Police said the woman gave a vague description of the suspect, saying he appeared to be a homeless man and was wearing a light-colored shirt.
Investigators said this kind of attack is rare and they had officers out all day Friday gathering video from nearby buildings. They said the Panthers have given them full access as well.
“We don’t see these very often. And when we do they obviously heighten our senses and they make us kind of emotional and they bring out a lot of concern and fear. We want to let everybody know we’re doing all we can quell those fears,” Tufano said.
No arrests have been made at this point.
“Anytime we have a stranger sexual assault that occurs it’s extremely,” extremely rare,” says @CMPD spokesperson regarding woman attacked in Uptown following Panthers game. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/HYQTUN3Rgs
— Genevieve Curtis (@GenevieveWSOC9) October 30, 2020
Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this developing story.
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