Published on Oct 23, 2012 by CNN
Published on Oct 23, 2012 by UncookedVanilla
Two days after multiple law enforcement agencies began an investigation into the attack and burning of a Winnsboro woman at Civitan Park, authorities now believe the wounds were self-inflicted.
According to Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas, evidenced gathered at the scene of the incident shows 20-year-old Sharmeka Moffitt’s initial claims that she was attacked and set on fire turned out to be false claims made up by Moffitt.
“This is a case in which the investigators had to pursue the facts that were presented,” Thomas said. “It’s been a very disturbing case for everyone involved.”
On Sunday, officers responded to a 911 call around 8 p.m. near the walking trail at Civitan Park to find Moffitt with burns covering her body. It was less than a minute from the time the call from Moffitt came into the 911 center that officers from the Winnsboro Police Department and the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office were on the scene at the park located on Hwy. 15.
Moffitt could not identify the race of her attackers, but said three men wearing “T-shirt hoodies” doused her in a flammable liquid and set her on fire at the park. The responding officers found no suspects or vehicles at the park where the attack allegedly occurred.
Moffitt was taken to Franklin Medical Center in Winnsboro and then transported to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, where it was determined she had burns on over 60 percent of her body.
According to news reports from The Franklin Sun, Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas say the evidence gathered at the scene of the incident shows 20-year-old Sharmeka Moffitt’s initial claims that she was attacked and set on fire turned out to be false claims made up by Moffitt.
“This is a case in which the investigators had to pursue the facts that were presented,” Thomas said. “It’s been a very disturbing case for everyone involved.”
Moffitt was set to undergo surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport Tuesday. She was listed in critical condition.
State Police arrived by helicopter with its crime lab team to gather evidence shortly after Moffitt was taken for medical assistance. Law enforcement officials gathered evidence from the scene all night, finishing its scaling of the crime scene by Monday morning.
After analyzing the evidence at the State Police Crime Lab, it was discovered Moffitt’s fingerprints were on the cigarette lighter and the lighter fluid recovered near the wooded area around the crime scene.
“There is more physical evidence along those lines that back this up,” Thomas said.
A racial slur and the letters, KKK, that were written in toothpaste on Moffitt’s vehicle were linked to female DNA, authorities said.
“All of the evidence is pointing back to the victim inflicting this upon herself,” Thomas said. “No evidence has shown any other person was involved.”
Thomas said that no matter the outcome of these types of tragic events, it’s always a heavy burden on law enforcement and the victim’s family.
“My heart truly goes out to the Moffitt family, who are more than just members of our community, they are my friends,” Thomas said. “I hope we can come together as a community and pray for their wellbeing and a quick recovery of Sharmeka.”
Candlelight vigils for Moffitt were held Monday night around Winnsboro before the facts of the case were revealed.
http://www.kalb.com/story/19896338/officials-winnsboro-burn-victims-claims-are-false
Police: Winnsboro woman set herself on fire
Published on Oct 23, 2012 by Dat FixHardcore
“She was not wearing an Obama T-Shirt…”
WINNSBORO — Police say the letters “KKK” were written on the hood of a vehicle belonging to a Franklin Parish woman who was attacked and burned by three men Sunday night, but they are not calling it a hate crime at this time.
During a Monday morning news conference, Franklin Sheriff Kevin Cobb and Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas released details of the attack that took place in Civitan Park in Winnsboro.
Authorities say Sharmeka Moffitt, 20, called 911 from Civitan Park about 8 p.m. Sunday after she was attacked and burned by three men wearing white hoodies while she was on the walking trail in the southern end of the park.
The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the Louisiana State Police, the state Fire Marshal’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Winnsboro Police and Franklin Parish Sheriff’s department. No suspects have been identified.
“She was not raped, she was not beaten, she was burned – sixty percent of her body.”
Winnsboro-woman-attacked-park-KKK-scrawled-car
A Winnsboro, LA woman is hospitalized in critical condition after someone set her on fire. According to the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sharmeka Moffitt was on a walking trail in a city park when she was attacked. It happened about 8 p.m. Sunday evening.
She was taken to a hospital in Winnsboro and then transported to LSU Hospital in Shreveport.
woman-set-on-fire-is-in-critical-condition
The FBI is investigating a possible hate crime out of Franklin Parish. A woman was attacked and burned at a park Sunday night. 20-year-old Sharmeka Moffitt is in critical condition at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport.
Moffitt, 20, who called 911 from the park, couldn’t identify the race of her attackers, but said they were wearing white T-shirt hoodies.
What I also find a bit disturbing about this story is that the media seem breathlessly excited that this story went viral, almost as if they are happy to get to report that part of the news. Woohoo horrible crime goes viral…let’s celebrate, the ratings are through the roof!
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