WTAE-TV reports late this week that Ben Roethlisberger’s sexual assault accuser recently attended a “sorority retreat” in the North Georgia mountains and plans to go back to school soon.
His accuser may return to Georgia College & State University as early as this week, according to the woman’s lawyer. She took a leave of absence and went home to her parents in Atlanta after media descended on the tiny college town where she claims to have been assaulted.
The 20-year-old woman made a surprise appearance over the weekend at a sorority retreat in the mountains of northern Georgia. Her sisters said she was acting very normal and just wanted to get away for the weekend and didn’t want to talk about the allegations.
With the way things are going for Roethlisberger in this case, those seemingly mundane details might end up part of a case the quarterback’s attorney is building against the accuser if the QB is eventually charged with a crime.
I say that because based on the information made available to the public, along with the actions of Roethlisberger attorney Ed Garland, it appears the quarterback’s counsel views the background of the accuser as perhaps the most critical component of a possible court proceeding. Otherwise Garland wouldn’t have hurriedly hired high-profile private investigator Charles Middlestadt to presumably dig into the accuser’s personal life.
Immediately after Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault, his agent Ryan Tollner essentially scoffed at the allegations in an ill-advised press release, noting that Team Big Ben was “skeptical” of the accusation while adding that Roethlisberger thought the situation had already resolved itself. (Can’t blame him after seeing how chummy the Milledgeville police were with the Steelers quarterback that night.)
Shortly thereafter though Roethlisberger hired the best attorney in the state money could buy, along with a prominent local P.I. to delve into the background of the accuser.
What caused Roethlisberger to reverse field so quickly?
It’s reasonable to think that the accounts of the night in question from the accuser and Roethlisberger, along with testimony from friends of the accuser and the quarterback could cancel each other out. With disconnected witnesses a wildcard.
Though at the moment, this is the only non-contradictory public information we have that could be material to the case:
1) The woman was examined at a hospital after the alleged attack.
2) Roethlisberger has admitted to sexual contact with the alleged victim, without intercourse, and said that during the incident the woman “fell on her head.”
Can the case be decided on just those facts? Most likely no. That leaves the credibility of the accuser and the defendant as an integral element to any interpretation of what really happened in Capitol City’s VIP bathroom.
To this point in his life, Roethlisberger’s most important personal protection has always been his offensive lineman. That responsibilty though may soon fall on the quarterback’s newly-hired P.I., Charles Middlestadt.
Last time Roethlisberger relies on Willie Colon to pass block.
9:42 pm on March 17th, 2010
I really hope we aren’t about to stalk this girl with every picture we can find of her.
I understand this is a big story but how about we have somewhat of a line with her.
9:17 am on March 18th, 2010
I the words of that great historian: “Who gives a shit about her or Dumbass Ben!!!!!!!! Bring back the SbB girls!! That would be news !!!!
9:34 am on March 18th, 2010
I still don’t see why Ben merely retaining counsel is somehow an admission of guilt or even wrongdoing. Each and every person, whether they did something wrong or not, can be sued…it only takes a piece of paper and the $10 filing fee. The real issue is whether there is merit to the claim. Retaining a lawyer to protect himself from the claim is a right that Ben has. The fact his lawyer is more expensive or better known than most also means nothing, that’s a benefit of being rich. So I think we need to remember that in this great country there is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.
9:35 am on March 18th, 2010
What is this malware crap SBB is talking about? Is it just from visiting the site or selecting a certain link?
12:55 pm on March 18th, 2010
The girl was so drunk that she pissed on Ben when he was trying to finger blast her. He was disgusted, left, and she tried to get up, slipping and falling in her urine. That’s why she was so hysterical and thats why he readily admitted to having contact and her falling and hitting her head. Its been weeks w no charges filed. I just cannot wait until they end this so I can stop hearing about it.
3:02 pm on March 18th, 2010
Mr Justice? I think the point is that he has hired such a high profile attorney. I’m an assistant DA in SE PA (sorry can’t say exactly where) and we call lawyers like Ed Garland “WB’s [wrap beaters]” for obvious reasons.
In his Tahoe civil suit he hired a relatively unknown lawyer to handle the issue. But here he has hired a shark giving the impression that even Ben considers this a very different circumstance. Ben’s changing story is curious too.
First he says he had no contact and then he says ‘ok well there was sexual contact’ (that will help if DNA is present).
Then after hiring Garland he first agrees and then renegs on interviewing w/ the GA police…. now this could simply be to get Big Ben’s ducks in a row but considering that Garland would be present during any interrogation immediately warrants speculation regarding his waffling at least from a investigative standpoint.
I think people are sketical A) because he is a celebrity. B) The Tahoe incident is no longer isolated C) because his story, process, and defense have fluctuated.
He didn’t hire a PI in the Tahoe case, he didn’t hire a high profile lawyer. Why now? In a smaller town with a plaintiff who (at least on the surface) would seem more questionable.
Big Ben listen heed these two words:
“Cash” “Settlement”
10:17 am on March 19th, 2010
those girls look like they could be his kids. that is just disgusting.
5:56 pm on March 22nd, 2010
ZETA TAU ALPHA Sorority criminally & premeditatedly destroyed sexts, texts, MySpace, Facebook, emails and other pertinent evidence to forever obstruct justice for Mr. Roethlisberger ..protecting the skank sorority and its members who are active participants in the false accussations against Mr. Roethlisberger. ZETA TAU ALPHA met at the retreat to corroborate stories (make the testimony consistent ) ; since the entire sorority has engaged in acts of crime for which each and every member and the governance who came in from out of state, must be charged and prosecuted to the letter of the law as it is a criminal violation in GA, alternately there is a federal jurisdiction possiblity.
Whenever Mr. Roethlisberger goes into Milledgeville, the skanks text so that the GCSU women seeking his attention and free gifts (autographs, personalized photos, and if over 21 free drinks) can find him.the night of the false charges was no differrent.
Not only did the ZETA TAU ALPHA woman, follow Mr. Reothlisberger from bar to bar, she repeatedly tried to be next to him, she propositioned him, nothing new for her -Its her existing rep.
She has had two abortions under her mother’s name with her mother’s help; She has been sexually active since Jr. High; she is frequently publically drunk, recreational drug user, and accomplished liar; so are most of her fellow ’sisters’ in crime, at ZETA TAU ALPHA at GeorgiaCentralStateUniversity.
GCSU allows ZETA TAU ALPHA to flagrantly violate its Personal Conduct of Honor Code for the past decade.
GCSU’s legal counsel knows that ZETA TAU ALPHA’s destruction of evidence is a CRIMINAL OFFENSE for each and every resident participant, and Sorority governance.
GCSU by its own Code of Personal Conduct has an immediate obligation to close ZETA TAU ALPHA down and suspend for the remaining school year each member for destroying evidence that would discharge the false criminal charges against a decent person ,Mr. Roethlisberger;.
Why should GCSU take immediate disciplinary action? They are liable for what goes on their campus; Obstructing Justice by destruction of evidence is
crime federal and GA statutes.
Were I Mr. Roethlisberger I’d be counter suing ZETA TAU ALPHA ,each member , and add a few Does to identify later, under RICO-(Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations which code applies to, as an example : office workers shredding accounting records at Enron) and I’d do that, leaving the door open to add CGSU and others, as Mr. Roethlisberger is the one victim.
Anyone who personally knows Mr. Roethlisberger will tell you he does not and has not and will not assault a woman of any age; he is a lover of women.
There is no end to the women who seek his attention- he did not need the highly experienced ZETA TAU ALPHA woman-or vile pals; but the skank needed him
to be the crime victim for the purpose of criminally obtaining monetary damages including crime victime assistance.
He remains the crime victim. Mr. Roethlisberger would never seek or do anything to damage his life as it stands damaged today; it is entirely out of character for him.
You needn’t mention the bufoon civil suit in Nevada by Andrea McNulty- {1. enagaged to fictional solder while 2. having affair with married man- while
3. planning sexcapades with Mr. Roethlisberger at her place of employment when he was to show up for a golf tourne;
4. seized the opprotunity to fix his TV,
5. consented to intimacy- loved the intimacy so much she bragged to pals and co-workers;
6. due to her fictional soldier fiance and the affair with a married man she seeks help for depression and quoting her attorneys “didn’t like how the inmates treated her” (catch the noun “inmates” and not “patients” her own attorneys words in a public filing!) at the facility she was sent to;
7. a year later files legal fiction bufoonery to get money on the pretense of a rape which never happened and wrongly ascribing all her bad choices in life to a man with money and an employer.]
It is important that Mr. Roethlisberger NEVER MAKE A $1.00 or greater monetary settlement with the ZETA TAU ALPHA woman.
Arthur M. Blank, (home depot guy owns falcons reputed member of the j. mafia)is possibly behind the GA GCSU woman; Lot of people wouldn’t be surprised if that is exposed…….. as this incident smells alot like him:
When Arthur M Blank bought the falcons nfl team he wanted to get out of the just signed contract for QB Vick
and couldn’t; he then tried to trade QBVick- couldn’t. QBVick actually did crimes- Arthur M Blank dfiscovered it and set himself free of the contract he never wanted by causing QB Vick’s federal prosecution. Doesn’t matter all the philantrophic grants of Arthur M Blank foundation- that is just a drop in the bucket compared to his home depot and j.mafia wealth, and provides a necessary smokescreen
Arthur M Blank sees Mr. Roethlisberger as the greatest obstacle to the falcons ever getting to a superbowl; most teams see that fact.
Mr. Roethlisberger, a happy go lucky guy mistakenly bought a vacation home in Arthur M Blank’s j.mafia terrirtory; he’s been watching for a way to destroy Mr. Roethlisberger; In his j.mafia territory of GA is ZETA TAU ALPHA whom collectively criminally destroyed evidence which would cause all accussations to fall, Mr. Roethlisberger to be entirely cleared of the lies
Now Jack: the annomynous se pa da? really… a law school grad ? a pretender ? ’cause Jack, everybody knows if you are facing a possibility of false criminal charges then you hire the finest attorney money can buy, and fast enough to make any corrupt civil servant re-think trying to falsely prosecute you; plenty of corrupt civil servants have sent the innocent to executions, life sentences, and years of false imprisonment ..false prosecutions always have exactly what
the ZETA TAU ALPHA Sorority and the GCSU woman are: Liars presenting lies to achieve the destruction of an innocent person.
6:09 pm on March 22nd, 2010
Talk about age differance disgusting facts: falcons owner ect. Arthur M Blank is old enough to be the great grand father of the boy under age 11 you see at the falcons home games- disgustingly some 25 years younger woman thought Arthur M Blank a grand dad age moneyed man was marriage material and Arthur M Blank a grandfather aged man was not above enjoying the attention of the 25 years younger woman-
including personal intimacy………………….. while Mr. Roethlisberger is only 28 and dates women over the age of 18 and a bit younger than himself. In all respects, Mr. Roethlisberger really is a decent normal guy.
2:32 pm on March 29th, 2010
Okay she was suppose to be so hysterical that she had to leave school, yet she was able to go on a weekend with her sorority sisters. The same sorority sisters that took down their facebooks pages.
yeah right she ahd to get away for the weekend, more like they had to get together to get their stories straight.
3:24 pm on March 29th, 2010
He should NEVER had been to a college bar in the first place! He is in the public eye and needs to act like an adult. I am a HUGE Steelers fan but never cared for his arrogant ass. Let’s get a new QB….the NFL would be stupid to let him stay!
5:48 pm on March 31st, 2010
Well it is now 26 Days since she came to the police in the bar or went to the hospital and report, have seen many verison of this. if the so called alleged victim refuses to come in and talk to the police, then drop the case already.
I believe her until she hired a civil attorney. IF you are so hysterical about the alleged assualt that just happen to you, you would want justice for the person responible, so you would let the DA handle. If you only want money which is obvious by the hiring of the civil attorney.
4:20 pm on April 7th, 2010
Whatever Ben’s stupid mistakes have been, that doesn’t give the Georgia police the rights to confer with the attorney in Nevada. One has nothing to do with the other. Especially in presenting evidence to the DA.