Controversy Over Reporting of Alleged Rape Continues

Controversy has surrounded a Platte County, Missouri newspaper's decision to run a story in late December regarding an alleged rape that took place on election night in November at the hands of newly elected state representative Jason Grill (D). Editor Ivan Foley of the Platte County Landmark decided to run the story more than a month after a police report was filed, and competitor the Parkville Luminary ran an editorial the next day criticizing the Landmark's decision and coming out in support of Grill.

According to the Landmark story, a 22-year-old Kansas City woman told police that she was sexually assaulted by Grill around 2 a.m. the morning of Nov. 8, just hours after Grill defeated Republican John DeStefano in a landslide victory, taking around 60 percent of the vote. According to police reports, the alleged rape occurred like this: the victim and a friend started their evening at Tomfooleries restaurant at Zona Rosa shopping center in northern Kansas City, later relocating to nearby O'Dowds, where an election night victory party was taking place for Grill. The victim used the restroom shortly before 2 a.m., returning to the table to find that her friend had left and she was alone with Grill. When she couldn't find her car keys, Grill offered to help and accompanied her to her car in a nearby parking lot.

The police report then states that after a half hour of conversation, "forced sexual contact occurred," and the woman told Grill four times to "get the (expletive) off me." Later, the woman reported to a Kansas City hospital for examination and then to a police station, where she reported the incident but later declined to press charges because of her inability to remember enough details of the alleged rape. It was discovered that the woman had paid for 11 drinks at Tomfooleries and was presumably intoxicated. Grill hired an attorney to represent him against the allegations, but it is assumed that no charges will be filed.

Publisher Mark Vasto of the Luminary wrote a follow-up editorial piece blasting the story, dismissing it as nothing more than hearsay and rumor and citing the Grill family's status in the community: "The Grills are a respected and well-liked family in Parkville...understandably upset at having some outsider take a whack at them out of the blue," said Vasto in the Dec. 22 edition of the Luminary, one day after the Landmark story hit the stands. "Jason Grill ran a hard, clean campaign and many are beginning to hold him in equally high regard - enough so to elect him to office. I personally know him to be a good man and The Luminary endorsed him for office. We expect to see some good work from Mr. Grill in the coming years."

Vasto and the Luminary went on to come out in direct support of Grill in the accusations.

"Representative Grill has strenuously denied the allegations in this case and I believe him," Vasto wrote. "I have spoken with his legal consul and know that they were planning on vigorously defending their claim in court and had a list of witnesses prepared. The woman in question has also refused to press charges in the matter. I also know that the leadership in Jefferson City was aware of the police report...but they too have dismissed it."

It is unclear whether any further action regarding this case will occur, but questions of responsible journalism raised in the Luminary editorial have caused heated discussion amongst citizens in Parkville and Platte County in Missouri.

Letters to the Luminary in support of women's rights and criticizing Vasto for suggesting that the drunken woman was not telling the truth went unprinted. Regardless of whether Grill is at fault, this issue has raised discussion regarding unreported rapes in the United States and the issue of he said/she said in rape cases.