A student at the College of William and Mary reported she was raped off-campus the night of Thursday, March 19. She reported the incident to both the William and Mary Police Department and the Dean of Students Office Monday, March 23. March 31, the police investigator presented his findings to the Commonwealth Attorney for review. According to a press release from the Williamsburg Police Department, the Commonwealth’s Attorney has declined prosecution at this time after reviewing the investigation.
Following the original report, the student body was notified of the incident on Tuesday, March 24 via an email from Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ’88 Ph.D. ’06.
In her message, Ambler directed students to resources that specialize in helping people who have been the victims of sexual violence, such as the Haven.
This incident is one of several sexual violence cases that have been reported to the Williamsburg Police Department. Since 2009, there have been four rapes and four reports of sexual assault. All victims have been female.
The student involved in this case was walking home from a local establishment with a friend when she encountered the suspect. The three walked back to the student’s residence on Randolph Street. The student reported that the assault occurred after her friend had left the premises.
She identified the suspect as a white male, approximately 35 years old, six feet tall, with brown hair, a goatee and blue eyes. The police apprehended the suspect during their investigation.
— Flat Hat Assoc. News Editor Eleanor Lamb