Student Sues Glenville State over Sexual Assault
ByA former student of Glenville State College, West Virginia, has filed a lawsuit against the college for failing to appropriately investigate when she was allegedly drugged and raped by a fellow student two years ago.
Amanda Smith, who attended Glenville State College from August 2009 to October 2010, filed the federal suit Sept. 17 alleging the college and its department of public safety 'showed minimal police and investigative training', wboy.com reports.
She alleges that the university 'destroyed, lost, misappropriated or contaminated' the evidence as a result of which the accused could evade prosecution.
The lawsuit has named the college, its chief of public safety, Daniel Bell and four fellow students-Jayde Layne, Kala Fisher, Jordan Watkins and Erietta Patrianakos-as defendants.
"One investigatory notebook kept by defendant director and chief of the Glenville State College's Department of Public Safety, Daniel Bell, was accidentally placed in a washing machine and destroyed," Smith's suit asserts.
Her anger appears to have primarily directed toward the college's department of public safety, as she believes, it failed to follow protocol in sexual assault cases. She alleges the department of not safeguarding and storing the evidence and protecting the crime scene 'including the securing of the clothing worn by the plaintiff, both sets bed sheets soiled by plaintiff's and possibly other's bodily fluids.'
As for the student defendants in the law suit, Smith says they have been 'uncooperative' with the investigation and 'refused to identify students in the room' at the time of the sexual assault.
On Sept. 18, 2010, she says, when she went to Watkins' room, Layne first gave her a drink and brought a different cup after she finished half of the first drink.
These cups along with their contents later were destroyed by unknown people, Smith further alleges. Apparently, she became nauseated around 9 p.m. and lost consciousness soon after.
An hour later or so, Emergency Medical Service was called and was placed in intensive care.
She is reportedly acting pro se and claims that she was assaulted after a drug was slipped into her drink which rendered her conscious. In addition, her suit states hospital records that show the presence of benzodiazepine in her system. Records further show that she had a blood alcohol content of .236.
Her suit also states that she suffered bruises and injuries which are consistent with rape. But, after the incident, Bell reportedly accused her that the bruises were self-inflicted. Also, when he interviewed her, she says, he 'chose to argue with her and dispute her account of the facts.'
Smith's suit has further made a damaging statement claiming that it is not the first incident where college officials and police showed indifference toward potential sexual assault victims.