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Allegations Leaked in David Copperfield Alleged Rape Case

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 07:15:00 AM EST
Tags: David Copperfield (all tags)
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Thanks to talking "sources," details of a Seattle grand jury investigation into alleged rape allegations against magician David Copperfield are available for the world to see.

The story: A 21 year old woman attends a Copperfield show with her family. Almost as soon as they enter, they are ushered to the front. Copperfield has her come onstage to be a part of the show.

He invites her to his private island in the Bahamas, assuring her there will be other guests. There were no other guests, she says.

When the woman, 21, made the trip in late July -- after exchanging e-mails with Copperfield, 51 -- she found herself the only guest on the island with him, she told investigators. She has told Seattle police, and later the FBI, that Copperfield raped and struck her during her two days on the island, said sources familiar with her allegations.

She said that, afterward, Copperfield threatened her, telling her she'd better keep quiet, and then escorted her onto a plane, sources said.

More...

There may be a rape kit:

After leaving Nassau, the woman flew to Florida and then Seattle, where she told her family what happened and went to the Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress, sources said. A rape kit was assembled, and a federal source has confirmed that some of her clothing was taken into evidence.

Copperfield's attorney, David Chesnoff, says:

"We have said we are going to honor the confidentiality of the investigation," he said, adding that he was disappointed that some in law enforcement have chosen not to do the same. "Apparently [they] don't have the same respect for the law, and it casts doubt on the integrity of this investigation."

Earlier coverage is here and here.

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    Allegations Leaked in David Copperfield Alleged Rape Case | 6 comments (6 topical)

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    Hmmm (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Adept Havelock on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 11:23:38 AM EST
    They'd best keep a close eye on Mr. Copperfield.

    I hear he's good at disappearing acts.

    Leopold and Loeb, Redux ? (none / 0) (#1)
    by RedHead on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 04:34:44 AM EST
    It's like an episode of Columbo.

    A famed, wealth Magician attempts to commit the perfect illusion.

     

    It's like an episode of Columbo. (none / 0) (#6)
    by desertswine on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 11:49:52 AM EST
    It had Jack Cassidy as The Great Santini, in the "Now You See Him" episode.

    Parent
    Who flys to an island (none / 0) (#2)
    by lilybart on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 07:54:41 AM EST
    with an almost stranger?  I know we shouldn't blame the "victim" but she is 21 and an idiot.

    no kidding (none / 0) (#4)
    by RedHead on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 12:42:04 PM EST
    don't even try to handcuff him.

    as for waterboard, he'd houdini he way out of that one.

    Parent

    it's odd how (none / 0) (#5)
    by cpinva on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:51:49 PM EST
    these things (think: duke rape case) seem to get "leaked" to the media, don't you think?

    i haven't a clue whether these allegations are true or not, but it seems like this would taint any jury pool, should it actually go anywhere.

    Allegations Leaked in David Copperfield Alleged Rape Case | 6 comments (6 topical)

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