Alleged Duke Rape Victim Wants Her Life Back

April 19, 2006— -- The alleged victim in the Duke University lacrosse rape case is "doing as well as can be expected," her cousin says.

The woman at the center of the rape scandal is a 27-year-old African-American student from North Carolina Central University and mother. Since the alleged attack, she has been in seclusion and under a doctor's care. Her cousin, who wants only to be called Jackie, spoke on "Good Morning America" on her behalf.

"She's exhausted, emotionally and physically, but she's happy that the arrests were made," Jackie said.

On Tuesday, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, both sophomores on the Duke lacrosse team, turned themselves in to authorities in Durham, N.C.

They were charged with first-degree forcible rape, first-degree sexual offense and kidnapping. The alleged rape victim says she was attacked at an off-campus party for the team on March 13.

Defense attorneys say that bank records, cell phone bills, and photographs prove that one of the defendants did not commit the alleged crime.

"I can tell you that they have evidence in the form of an alibi that will clearly show at the alleged time of the rape, one of [the accused] specifically could not have been there," said James Williams, an attorney for one of the team's senior captains.

Lawyers for the lacrosse players have said that the alleged victim was intoxicated and that the lack of DNA evidence shows that none of the team members assaulted her. However, Jackie insisted that her cousin did not make up her story and said that it was a "big possibility" that her cousin could have consumed a drugged drink at the party.

Jackie wondered how her cousin could withstand the nationwide attention her case had generated.

<

"Who could stand this much pressure?" Jackie said. "It's become this huge media circus."

There is no way her cousin would have made up the story to get a monetary settlement, Jackie added.

"I think she'd rather have her life back than be concerned with money," Jackie said. "They [other people] hear exotic dancer, and they jump to assumptions."

Jackie said her cousin was a petite, humble and family-oriented person who was trying her best to raise her two children, ages 6 and 7.

Meanwhile, authorities may still make a third arrest in the case. District Attorney Mike Nifong said Tuesday he also hoped to link a third man to the alleged attack soon, but that person has not been "identified with certainty."