Former Boston TV News Anchor Says Kevin Spacey Sexually Assaulted Her Son
BOSTON (CBS) – Former Boston television news anchor Heather Unruh said actor Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted her teenage son, the latest in a series of disturbing allegations against the Oscar-winning actor.
At a news conference late Wednesday morning with attorney Mitchell Garabedian in Boston, Unruh alleged it happened in July 2016 on Nantucket when her son was drunk at the Club Car restaurant.
"To Kevin Spacey, I want to say this - shame on you for what you did to my son," Unruh told reporters.
Fighting back tears, she said her son was a "star-struck, straight, 18-year-old young man, who had no idea that the famous actor was an alleged sexual predator or that he was about to become his next victim."
Unruh claims Spacey bought her son several drinks and eventually stuck his hand in her son's pants and grabbed his genitals without consent in the crowded, dimly lit club. "This was completely unexpected," Unruh said, adding that her son panicked and froze.
When Spacey went to the men's room, Unruh said a "concerned woman" approached her son and asked him if he was okay. "She told him to run," Unruh said and her son left the restaurant and ran to his grandmother's home. He woke his sister and the two of them called their mother, who came to Nantucket the next day.
"It harmed him and it cannot be undone," Unruh said.
Owners of Club Car issued a statement following Unruh's press conference.
We were saddened to read Heather Unruh's story to reporters that actor Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted her son during an encounter last year here on Nantucket. Unruh is a cherished member of our local Boston community and it's difficult to imagine this unfolding national scandal would hit home here.
Club Car is an iconic establishment on Nantucket Island. We purchased it after the close of the 2016 season, and therefore after this unfortunate incident. While the name remains, our chef, the staff, menu and environment has changed and been reimagined. We uphold the highest standards for safety and service. Underage drinking is prohibited at our restaurant.
Our hearts go out to all the victims involved in the Kevin Spacey scandal and, of course, Ms. Unruh and her son.
Unruh said her son didn't report the incident to police at the time because of "embarrassment and fear," but she did call the sheriff on Nantucket and "we had a long conversation so that he knew about the incident and he very much wanted my son to come forward and report it."
"Last week my son filed a police report and handed over evidence to the Nantucket Police and now a criminal investigation has begun," Unruh said. "He's committed to doing what he can to stop Kevin Spacey from victimizing anyone else."
"We cannot confirm nor deny any such report was filed. Reports of sexual assaults are confidential under Mass. General Law," Nantucket Police Lt. Angus C. MacVicar said in an email to WBZ-TV.
Unruh said her son, now 19, is currently a sophomore in college and a "very strong young man" living his life. "He definitely thinks about it and he can't erase it," she said.
Watch: Heather Unruh News Conference
"I've wanted to say something for a very long time," Unruh told reporters. She said watching Spacey host the Tony Awards and be celebrated as a man and actor has been "hurtful."
"Now the climate in this country is changing. There's a shift," Unruh said. "The timing was everything. I think a lot of us felt a lot less fear of how my son would be treated."
"I definitely think he deserves to go to prison," Unruh said of Spacey, who has not responded yet to the allegation. "He should go to prison."
She tweeted back on October 13 that the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal "has emboldened me-- #truth time. I was a Kevin Spacey fan until he assaulted a loved one. Time the dominoes fell."
More than two weeks later, after other allegations against Spacey became public, Unruh tweeted," The dominoes are falling. My loved one will speak when ready. The headline is #KevinSpacey the #predator- this is not about him being gay."
Spacey is also accused of attacking the son of actor Richard Dreyfuss. Harry Dreyfuss was 18 at the time of the alleged incident in 2008.
Unruh said she's been in contact with the Dreyfuss family and several of Spacey's other alleged victims have reached out to her and her family.
"Some of them have been suffering this for decades and haven't told anyone, until they told me," she said. "They've got a long way to go."
Garabedian said he is conducting his own investigation for a possible criminal or civil case against Spacey.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports