Burns 'Victim' Admits Staging Acid Attack
11:49am Friday September 17, 2010
Jon di Paolo
A woman who won sympathy from around the world by claiming an attacker threw acid in her face has admitted inflicting the injuries on herself.
FILE - This image provided by the Legacy Emanuel Medical Center shows Bethany Storro prior to surgery in Portland, Ore. Vancouver, Wash. Police Chief Clifford Cook said that Bethany Storro admitted to fabricating a story about the attack in which she suffered severe burns on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010. Cook said he does not know a motive for Storro's actions, but added she is "very remorseful." (AP Photo/Legacy Emanuel Medical Center) (AP)
Bethany Storro told police a black woman with a ponytail came up to her and said "Hey, pretty girl, want something to drink?" then threw the burning liquid from a cup. A surgeon who operated on her said the substance that had caused the wounds was as strong as hydrochloric or sulphuric acid. Storro recounted details of the "attack" at a news conference, with her head wrapped in bandages and her parents by her side.
Her account quickly garnered sympathy outside her home town of Vancouver, a suburb of Portland, Oregon, US, and accounts were set up for her at local banks to receive donations from well-wishers. She was booked for several media appearances, including Oprah, although the plan to appear on the famous chat show fell through. However, as police investigated further, discrepancies in her story emerged, and she eventually confessed the whole thing was a hoax.
Detectives' suspicions were apparently raised by the splash pattern of the acid on her skin, which seemed more consistent with pouring or rubbing than being thrown. In addition, although Storro said she was wearing sunglasses at the time of the the attack, burns appeared in areas that should have been protected by spectacles.
Vancouver police chief Clifford Cook said he did not know what had motivated Storro, but added the 28-year-old was "very remorseful". "In many ways this got bigger than she expected," said another senior officer. Detectives are working out how to return any money donated to Storro, who faces a charge of filing a false police report.
