Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in Dec. 2012. Below are five things known about the ongoing case.
1. A DNA test linked Winston to the victim. The DNA from Winston matched the sample taken from the underwear of the alleged victim, ESPN reported on Wednesday. An attorney for Winston told the Tallahassee Democrat that his client had voluntarily provided a DNA sample to investigators.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement commissioner Gerald Bailey confirmed to The Democrat on Thursday that the FDLE completed two tests - a DNA test on one individual and a toxicology scan on the victim - but declined to say who the individuals were.
2. There are questions about the investigation conducted by the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD); TMZ went as far as indicating officers in the department tried to cover up the assault and sweep it under the rug.
-The District Attorney's Office received the 11-month-old criminal complaint from TPD only after TMZ and the Tampa Bay Times began making inquiries during the week of Nov. 10.
-The victim's family, through a statement (via The Democrat), accused the police department of trying to dissuade her from pursuing the case against Winston: "...Detective Angulo told the (family) attorney that Tallahasee was a big football town and the victim needs to think long and hard before proceeding against him because she will be raked over the coals and her life will be made miserable."
-The statement cites the difficulty the family had in obtaining the blood test results and said, "Detective Angulo specifically refused to collect Winston's FNA or interview's roommate who witnessed the attack. Detective Angulo stated that such activity would alert Winston and the matter could go public."
-The family also questioned why Winston's attorney was alerted to the investigation in February yet was never named a suspect in the police report.
3. The family's statement refuted reports that the victim stopped cooperating with police or "changed her mind," the purported delay in the investigation. The statement says the victim immediately reported the Dec. 7, 2012 crime to police and "cooperated completely." She identified Winston as her assailant in January.
Although the statement acknowledged the family attorney discussed suspending the investigation so the victim could receive counseling, the statement said she and the family were "at all times" available to investigators.
4. Contrary to reports, the victim wasn't intoxicated at the time of the alleged attack. The statement said the family was told by Angulo that, based on the results of the blood test, she was not under the influence of alcohol at the time.
5. State Attorney Willie Meggs said the case could be resolved sometime next week, according to The Times.
The Tallahassee Police Department declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation. Winston hasn't been arrested or charged with a crime.
