Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Woman' faked rape to induce husband to move'

 

Don Thompson
Sunday 11 December 2011 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

A California state prison psychologist has been charged with faking her own rape in an unsuccessful attempt to persuade her husband to move to a safer neighbourhood, according to local police.

Laurie Ann Martinez conspired with a friend to create the appearance that she had been beaten, robbed and raped in her home in April. Investigators say she split her own lip with a pin, scraped her knuckles with sandpaper and had her friend punch her in the face with boxing gloves they bought for that purpose.

Martinez, her friend, and two co-workers eventually told police that the whole thing was an elaborate setup to convince Martinez's husband, David, that they needed to move. It didn't work. If convicted of conspiracy she could face up to three years in jail.

"If all you wanted to do is move, there are other ways than staging a burglary and rape," said Sacramento police sergeant Andrew Pettit. "She went to great lengths to make this appear real."

AP

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in