Alleged rape victim posts YouTube video

Published: May 16, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Order reprints
ORLANDO, Fla., May 16 (UPI) -- A 16-year-old girl posted a video on YouTube pleading for help after her rape case was dismissed by the Orange County, Fla., state attorney's office.

The girl, referred to by CNN only as Crystal, is one of many teens who use the Internet to seek comfort after saying they were sexually assaulted.

"Hi, my name is Crystal. ... I need some help. I didn't want to do it this way, but it's the only way I know that's going to work, that someone out there in the world is gonna listen to me," she says in the video.

Some rape victim advocates have said turning to the Internet for help may be a harmful choice because it exposes too much personal information including names, pictures and hometowns, CNN said.

"A rape survivor's intention may be to reach out, and we encourage that, but this is a dangerous way to do it," said Scott Berkowitz, president of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


No pardon for Khodorkovsky in works (3 min)
College grads aid Chinese farmers (5 min)
Report: Jackson may be buried in concrete (6 min)
Former Beatles manager Klein dead at 77 (11 min)
Anglican bishop: Gays must repent (21 min)
Living statues coming to London square (25 min)
Disney World monorail driver dies in crash (37 min)
Photoshop this rugged race
Afghanistan as a major tourist destination? The tag says it all
If you've been getting unemployment in Indiana, and haven't put on your really, truly bestest effort...
63 years ago today, the bikini was introduced
Sarah Palin has apparently hired someone with a GED in Law, threatens to sue bloggers for defamation...
If you have a beer belly, blame your dad, not all the beer you've been drinking since you were 14...