Crystal Mangum, the woman at the center of the infamous Duke lacrosse case, has publicly admitted that she lied about being raped by three Duke University lacrosse players — Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty, and David Evans — nearly two decades ago.
Mangum, a former exotic dancer, made the confession during an interview on the “Let’s Talk with Kat” podcast, hosted by Katerena DePasquale.
The episode, released on Dec. 11, was recorded at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women, where Mangum is currently serving time for the 2013 second-degree murder of her boyfriend, Reginald Daye.
Crystal Mangum Lied
In the podcast, Crystal Mangum admitted to fabricating the rape allegations that shook the nation in 2006.
Reflecting on her actions, she said, “I testified falsely against them, saying they raped me when they didn’t. That was wrong.”
She continued, expressing regret for betraying the trust of Seligmann, Finnerty, and Evans, whom she now refers to as “brothers.”
Mangum shared that her motivations stemmed from seeking validation, stating, “I made up a story that wasn’t true because I wanted validation from people and not from God… I hurt my brothers.”
She ended her statement with a heartfelt apology, asking for forgiveness from the men she wrongfully accused: “I hope they can forgive me. They didn’t deserve that.”
18 years later, Crystal Mangum just admitted that she made up the r@pe allegation against the Duke Lacrosse players.
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) December 13, 2024
18 years later, she finally admits it… She should spend a significant amount of time in prison.
pic.twitter.com/gav1BvoSHS
This marks the first time Mangum has explicitly admitted to lying about the allegations.
In her 2008 book, “Last Dance for Grace: The Crystal Mangum Story“, she maintained ambiguity, writing, “I will never say that nothing at all happened that night.”
The Duke Lacrosse Case Shook The Nation
In 2006, Crystal Mangum accused Seligmann, Finnerty, and Evans of raping her during a Duke lacrosse team party where she had been hired to perform.
Her claims led to widespread media coverage and legal action.
Mangum initially told police in Durham, North Carolina, that she was raped, sodomized, and beaten for 30 minutes while trapped in a bathroom.
However, the case quickly unraveled.
No DNA evidence linked the accused players to Mangum, and inconsistencies in her account led to the case being dismissed in 2007.
The District Attorney, Mike Nifong, who aggressively pursued the case, was later disbarred for unethical conduct, including withholding evidence.
Despite the dismissal, Crystal Mangum was never prosecuted for perjury.
Then-Attorney General Roy Cooper stated investigators believed “she may have actually believed the many different stories that she has been telling.”
The Aftermath
Following their exoneration, Seligmann, Finnerty, and Evans filed lawsuits against Duke University and its former president, Richard Brodhead.
The case was settled for an undisclosed amount.
Meanwhile, Crystal Mangum’s life took a tragic turn.
In 2013, she was convicted of second-degree murder for the stabbing death of her boyfriend, Reginald Daye.
She is currently serving her sentence, with a projected release date of Feb. 27, 2026, according to the North Carolina Department of Corrections.
HIT THE COMMENTS to share your thoughts and reactions! And scroll down to RELATED POSTS for more! 🖤 SUBSCRIBE to receive our daily newsletter.
Discover more from Ice Cream Conversations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
