Earlier this week, word spread of a young female cosplayer who was found badly injured and unconscious on the final day of Comic-Con International, Sunday, July 27.
San Diego Harbor Police subsequently announced that a 29 year old man was arrested in connection with that case on charges of sexual contact with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Today, the San Diego Harbor Police issued a new statement that indicates that the young woman’s injuries were not from an assault, but from a fall. The complete statement (via The Beat) is reproduced below:
BACKGROUND:
Shortly after 1 a.m. on Sunday, July 27, 2014, a juvenile female was found with significant injuries in the pool area of a hotel at 333 West Harbor Drive in San Diego. The juvenile female had attended Comic Con earlier in the day and still had her costume on. She was transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.
In connection with the case, Harbor Police arrested a 29-year-old man early Sunday morning, July 27 at the hotel. He was booked into San Diego County Jail at 11:20 a.m. on charges of sexual contact with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The Harbor Police Investigations Unit has been investigating the incident, including the cause of the injuries to the victim.
INVESTIGATION RESULTS:
After the incident, Police began a thorough investigation of the facts, including a review of footage from multiple surveillance cameras, as well as the assistance of community members and Comic Con attendees who provided extensive information and sent photographs for review. The investigation concluded with a finding that the juvenile female’s injuries were not the result of a criminal assault, and were likely the result of a fall. Her injuries, and physical evidence at the scene, were consistent with a fall from the distance of approximately six feet.
This finding does not affect the charges against the 29-year-old male, which will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office. Because this case involves a minor, no further information will be released about this incident.
To recap, the young woman was not assaulted as we had feared, but she remains badly injured and the man who was arrested is still facing the original charges for his interactions with her. Over at Polygon, the 29 year old man has revealed his name and gone on the record with his side of the story. In the report, he denies knowing that the young woman was 17 and he states that they did not have a sexual relationship.
While everyone should be relieved that the assault didn’t take place, we still have to look out for each other at Comic-Con. That hasn’t changed.
CraveOnline extends its best wishes for a full recovery to the injured young woman, her family and their friends and supporters.
