WFU University Police investigating cause of student’s injuries

Wake Forest University Police officers are seeking information to help with an investigation into how a female student sustained injuries to her face and hands on Friday night, Jan. 28.

The student, a sophomore who has been interviewed extensively by University Police, told investigators she does not know how she was hurt.

Two other female students found the injured woman at about 10:30 p.m. standing in a walkway leading from the courtyard area of Poteat Residence Hall, where she lives, to parking lot P. At that time, the woman was with an unidentified man whom University Police investigators hope to locate.

The students offered to accompany the woman to the Student Health Service, but she refused to go. At 10:32 p.m., one of the students called University Police and reported they had found a woman who had been assaulted.

According to investigators, the woman has never reported to anyone that she was assaulted.

Evidence indicates she had been drinking that night.

“We are trying to determine if she fell or if she was hurt by someone,” said University Police Chief Regina Lawson. “She has no recollection as to what happened to her.”

The student had facial bruises, swelling and scratches. In addition, two front teeth were chipped, and her palms were scraped. The student was taken by ambulance to Forsyth Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and then released at 3:45 a.m.

A University Police officer drove her to the Student Health Service, where she stayed until approximately 8:30 a.m. She then returned to her residence hall.

University Police investigators have been able to determine the student’s whereabouts for the evening, except from about 10:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., when it is believed the injuries occurred. From 7:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., she visited various friends in the residence hall, and briefly stopped by a fraternity party.

University Police know the student and a friend went to the fraternity party in Poteat Hall at 10 p.m. The student left the party at about 10:15 p.m. Ten to 15 minutes later, she was found by the women who reported the incident to University Police.

Anyone with any factual information related to the case is asked to contact University Police at 758-5591. Anonymous information can be provided by calling the campus Crime Stoppers at 758-4477.

Investigators also hope to identify the young man who was with the injured woman when she was discovered. The students who reported the incident told police that a man was talking with the woman when they found her, and may have been helping her stand. The man told the students he was trying to help her, and walked away once they began to assist her. He may be able to help with the investigation, police said.

The man is described as white, blonde and approximately 6 feet, 1 inch tall with a heavy build. He appeared to be of college age and was wearing jeans and a light-colored T-shirt.

Categories: Media Advisory, University Announcement