Acid Attack Hoax: "Victim" Bethany Storro Could be Charged

VANCOUVER, Wash. (CBS/AP) Bethany Storro, the Washington state woman who claimed a random assailant threw acid on her face, could be charged with filing a false police report after she admitted that the "attack" was self-inflicted. 

PICTURES: Bethany Storro, Acid Attack "Victim"

Vancouver Police chief Clifford Cook said any decision to charge Storro with a crime would be up to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, but when asked if she would be charged with filing a false police report, police Commander Marla Schuman responded: "At this point, yes, that would certainly fit."

Storro's story shocked Vancouver residents and exhausted the city's small police department. "It's been hundreds of hours," said Schuman regarding the time dedicated to the investigation. "It really took a toll on the department and the resources that we have." Schuman also mentioned detectives were working on a way to return any money donated to Storro.

Investigators wouldn't say why the 28-year-old burned herself with acid, but Cook said Storro was "remorseful" when they spoke with her Thursday morning, after serving a search warrant at her home.

Local authorities began the search for the alleged attacker after Storro claimed an African American woman approached her Aug. 30 outside a Starbucks in downtown Vancouver and asked, "Hey pretty girl, want something to drink?" before she throwing acid in Storro's face.

After the incident, Storro's story received worldwide attention, letters and e-mails swarmed in from around the nation for the supposedly optimistic Vancouver victim. Storro even booked an interview on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

However, during the course of questioning Storro's tale began to come undone. The police chief cited "several discrepancies" regarding the alleged attack, which led police to search her home Thursday and interview her.

Questions arose regarding the acid burn patterns on Storro's face, which weren't consistent with her story that someone threw the substance in her face and investigators grew skeptical when she said was wearing sunglasses just after 7:00 p.m. the day of the alleged "attack."

Storro's interview on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" has been canceled.

Complete Coverage of Bethany Storro on Crimesider.