In this Sept. 2, 2010 photo, Bethany Storro speaks to the media at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, Ore. Vancouver, Wash. Police Chief Clifford Cook said that Bethany Storro admitted to fabricating a story about the attack in which she suffered severe burns on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010. Cook said he does not know a motive for Storro's actions, but added she is "very remorseful." (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Ross William Hamilton)
Bethany Storro, a 28-year-old Vancouver woman who claimed a black woman had thrown acid on her face in an attack, has admitted she threw the acid on herself. Police are now saying they saw inconsistencies in Storro’s story from the beginning, says ABC.
Vancouver, Wash. police commander Marla Schuman explained Friday on Good Morning America: “Truthfully, there were red flags from the beginning,” she said.
Click here to see more photos of Bethany Storro.
“Initially just the manner of the attack, when she’s talking about being splashed in the face with acid and the demarcation, the placement of injuries on her face… the thought that she was wearing sunglasses at 7:30 at night when she normally doesn’t wear sunglasses. Just small things that didn’t quite add up to a picture of normalcy.”
Police announced Thursday the case has been closed, and did not speculate on Storro’s motives.
Prior to the confession that the acid wounds were self-inflicted, Storro received monetary donations and was booked to appear on Oprah. Her appearance was cancelled once doubts about her story began to circulate. Storro posted a message on her Facebook page, saying “From the very beginning I wanted to inspire people (hope I have) and tell them about Jesus.”
Following the Aug. 30 attack, several Facebook pages dedicated to Storro were created, along with a wave of public sympathy. Storro is now facing a backlash on Facebook, with burn victims and other members of the public condemning her for fabricating the attack.
Schuman said prosecutors are deciding whether to charge Storro, adding that she is “very remorseful.”
