Jameis Winston DNA Test Matches Sample Taken From Alleged Rape Victim's Underwear After Sexual Assault, Report Says
A DNA test performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reportedly ties Florida State quarterback and alleged rapist Jameis Winston to his accuser, according to a new report.
The Florida crime lab’s analysis revealed that DNA obtained from the alleged victim’s underwear matched a DNA sample provided by Winston, according to a copy of the report obtained by ESPN on Wednesday. The odds of the DNA taken from the woman’s underwear matching someone other than Winston are reportedly 1 in 2.2 trillion.
Tallahassee police obtained a DNA sample from the unnamed accuser’s underwear as part of a sexual assault test administered on Dec. 7, 2012, shortly after the alleged attack took place, ESPN reports. Meanwhile, Winston provided a DNA sample to authorities via a buccal swab.
Despite the apparent DNA evidence linking Winston to his accuser, the test does not absolutely verify that the victim was raped, ESPN notes. However, it would seem to confirm that some sort of sexual encounter took place between the two parties. Should the matter ever be taken to court, Winston’s defense team would likely seek to prove that any sexual encounter was consensual.
"We have professionally tried to maintain the dignity of an investigation," Tim Jansen, Winston's attorney, said in a statement. "However, either the Tallahassee Police Department or [Second Judiciual Circuit state attorney William] Meggs' office has decided they're going to improperly leak evidence to the media. We are saddened to learn that someone has decided to leak evidence to the public before Mr. Meggs has had time to make a decision. The improperly leaked report, if true, has zero impact on Mr. Winston's defense, and Mr. Winston maintains his innocence. We voluntarily submitted DNA last week."
News of Winston's potential involvement in the case broke last week, after TMZ obtained a police report that revealed that he was being investigated for felony sexual assault. The victim claims that she did not leak the case to the press and never wished for it to be made public.
Winston’s DNA test results were released less than a day after the alleged rape victim addressed the situation for the first time in a public forum. In a statement released through her attorney, the victim reiterated her claim that Winston raped her and claimed that Tallahassee police detectives warned her against pursuing legal action against the Heisman Trophy candidate.
“In early January, when the victim identified the perpetrator [of the alleged rape] as Jameis Winston, the [victim’s] family grew concerned that she would be targeted on campus,” the statement said. “We requested assistance from an attorney friend to interact with law enforcement on the victim’s behalf.”
“When the attorney contacted Detective Angulo immediately after Winston was identified, Detective Angulo told the attorney that Tallahassee was a big football town, and the victim needs to think long and hard before proceeding against him because she will be raked over the coals and her life will be made miserable.”
A breakdown of the alleged victim’s statement can be viewed here.
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