The Patrick Kane Rape Investigation Somehow Got Even More Disturbing
BOSTON (CBS) -- As if the rape investigation involving the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane wasn't disturbing enough, the case just took a turn for the macabre.
On Sunday, The Buffalo News reported that the DNA test from a rape kit performed on Kane's alleged victim revealed no signs of Kane's DNA. Now, on Wednesday morning, the evidence bag that had contained that same kit showed up on the doorstep of the alleged victim's mother, according to attorney Thomas Eoannou.
The evidence bag was obviously never supposed to leave the police station. When Eoannou addressed reporters, he said the bag "had been ripped open" and that in his 30-plus years in law had never seen an evidence bag outside of a police lab, prosecutor's office, or court room, "let alone find one in the doorway of a rape victim's mother's home."
The act of leaving a torn evidence bag could appear as a means of frightening or intimidating the alleged victim and her family. But Eoannou says he hopes that whoever delivered the bag was a "good Samaritan" telling them the evidence had been tampered with. Either way, for the alleged victim's mother the bag was a profoundly disturbing discovery.
Kane's lawyer Paul Cambria issued a statement on the new allegations Wednesday afternoon, saying that unless investigators can prove tampering occurred between the time the rape kit was used and the time it was tested, "the results are intact." He added that "the only one who could lose in this scenario is Kane...The only one who might have an incentive to have the evidence questioned would be someone who is not pleased with the results. We are pleased with the results."
Patrick Kane's lawyer just spoke. Here is what he had to say about the ripped open evidence bag. pic.twitter.com/8e7YrfWDf6
— Shawn McKenzie (@ShawnMcKenzieSN) September 23, 2015
While the rape kit revealed none of Kane's DNA on the alleged victim's genitals or underwear, other tests did reveal Kane's DNA on the alleged victim's shoulders and under her fingernails, which could indicate some kind of struggle but not necessarily rape.
According to reports, the alleged victim said Kane brought her to his Buffalo home and raped her on the morning of August 2nd. An off-duty Buffalo police officer, whom investigators also plan to question, was acting as Kane's chauffeur that night and reportedly drove the pair to the house, along with two other people. Kane arrived at Blackhawks training camp and issued a statement on the investigation, saying he "did nothing wrong."
Considering the anonymity of the person who delivered the ripped evidence bag, and that it's unclear whether tampering occurred, it's hard to determine the person's motivation. But this bizarre turn in the case only makes this already-troubling investigation that much more disturbing.
UPDATE (5:09 PM): The Hamburg Police Department, which was in charge of the evidence, has posted the following statement on its Facebook page:
"In regard to the information conveyed today by Mr. Thomas Eoannou, the Hamburg Police Department will cooperate with any authorized investigation regarding the handling of evidence and the procedure of such. That said, The Hamburg Police Department has documentation that unequivocally demonstrates that its handling of the evidence and the integrity of its chain of custody of evidence in this case is unassailable. As is policy with active investigations, there will be no further comment regarding this situation."
Erie County Commissioner of Central Police Services John Glascott also issued this statement: "All evidence related to this case that was given to Erie County Central Police Services by the Town of Hamburg Police Department is accounted for and remains in its original packaging in the possession of Erie County Central Police Services...This includes the evidence in the rape kit and the packaging itself. This evidence has been analyzed and reports of that analysis sent to the appropriate agencies."
If these statements are to be believed, then what is the supposed ripped evidence bag that showed up at the alleged victim's mother's home? Is it part of an elaborate hoax? This case is turning into quite the bizarre mystery.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read more from Matt here and follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff.