Patrick Kane's Accuser Has Quit Cooperating With Rape Investigation Because Of Stress: Report

By Emma G. Gallegos in News on Nov 3, 2015 5:16PM

The woman who accused Patrick Kane of raping her in his Hamburg home this summer has decided to stop cooperating with an investigation into the case, according to the Buffalo News. Five sources familiar with the case say the Kane's accuser told authorities that "the high-profile investigation has caused tremendous stress for her and her family, and that she no longer wishes to participate."

Kane's accuser signed a document called an "affidavit declining prosecution," the newspaper says. Ultimately, the decision to go forward with the case will be up to Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III.

Over the weekend, there were reports that the Blackhawks star likely wouldn't face charges, and now we know why. Prosecutors could still pursue the case, but legal experts say that it would be incredibly difficult to do without the accuser's cooperation.

That might be particularly true in this case. The woman accused Kane of overpowering her and raping her in his home outside Buffalo, leaving scratch marks on her. She went almost immediately to a hospital after the alleged rape. However, the rape kit didn't turn up any of Kane's DNA below her waist. And later, her attorney quit after it was revealed the accuser's mother lied about the rape kit being tampered with.

Frank J. Clark, a former Erie County D.A., said it's unusual but not strange for victims of sexual assaults to stop cooperating: "It's an emotional and difficult thing to do, to go through this whole process of an investigation and a trial. You have to testify in public about a degrading and horrifying event, and some people just don’t want to do it."