Crystal Mangum, the woman at the center of the highly publicized 2006 Duke University lacrosse team rape scandal, has come forward to admit that she fabricated the allegations.
Mangum, who is currently serving a prison sentence for second-degree murder, made the admission in a recent interview with podcaster Kate Katerena’s “Let’s Talk with Kat”.
In the interview, Mangum confessed to lying about being raped by three Duke University lacrosse players, David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann, at a party on March 13, 2006. “I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t, and that was wrong,” Mangum said, expressing remorse for her actions.
Mangum explained that she made up the story to seek validation from others, rather than from God. “I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me and made up a story that wasn’t true because I wanted validation from people and not from God, and that was wrong when God already loved me for who I was,” she said.
It later emerged that Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong had withheld evidence from defense lawyers that could have cleared the men much earlier. Nifong was subsequently disbarred in 2007.
Mangum’s apology comes 18 years after the incident, and it may be too little, too late for some of the parties involved.
Collin Finnerty, one of the accused players, released a statement expressing his sentiments. “It’s been 18 years since the incident, and it’s been hard for everyone involved,” Finnerty said. “I hope this time in jail makes her think about what the consequences are for her actions.”
Mangum is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence for the second-degree murder of her boyfriend, Reginald Daye, in 2011. She is set to be released on February 27, 2026.
