Patrick Kane accuser reportedly no longer wants to cooperate
The woman who accused Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane of raping her at his Buffalo-area home in August notified the Erie County District Attorney’s Office that she no longer wants to cooperate with the investigation, five sources with knowledge of the case told The Buffalo News.
That followed a report by The News over the weekend citing sources that said Kane was unlikely to face criminal charges.
According to Monday’s report, the woman has told authorities that the high-profile nature of the investigation has caused tremendous stress for her and her family, and she signed an “affidavit declining prosecution” last week that is now under consideration by District Attorney Frank Sedita.
Kane, 26, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his waterfront mansion outside Buffalo on Aug. 2. He has denied any wrongdoing but has never publicly discussed the events of that night. The News reported on Sept. 19 that DNA evidence obtained during the police investigation did not support the woman’s allegation that she was raped, and her lawyer announced three days later that someone had left a rape kit at her mother’s house.
The lawyer then abruptly quit the case the following day, citing false information he was given by the mother regarding the bag left at her house.
“I have an ethical responsibility to withdraw from the case, and I wished them the best of luck,” Thomas J. Eoannou at a news conference.
An investigation by Sedita’s office revealed that the incident with the bag was an “elaborate hoax” by the alleged victim’s mother. On Sept. 26, Sedita said he was questioning the validity of the case, and on Friday two sources told The News that no presentation of evidence of the alleged rape to a grand jury was expected.
When asked about the report over the weekend that Kane is not likely to face charges, Sedita said, “I am waiting for the investigation to be completed to my satisfaction and to confer with the assigned prosecutor, who is on her vacation six time zones away, before announcing anything further.”
Kane has scored 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 12 games this season after helping lead the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup titles in the past season seasons. He signed an eight-year, $84 million contract extension in 2014.
“Those are just reports,” Kane said when asked about The News story over the weekend. “There aren’t really any facts yet.”
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