Officials in Florida say a woman's terrifying tale of being raped in broad daylight was a lie created because she needed an excuse for missing work.
The New York Daily News reports that Boca Raton, Fla. resident Alexandra Westover told the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office that she was raped by a man who offered her assistance after she got a flat tire on the Florida Turnpike last Tuesday.
After beginning an investigation that reportedly wasted over 100 man hours, Westover, 21, eventually admitted that she had lied. According to the Orlando Sentinel, detectives were already beginning to question the validity of her claims. In addition, the Florida Highway Patrol examined turnpike video and was unable to locate Westover's car.
Her father called police and told them she came clean about making the entire ordeal up, and Westover told a deputy that she lied because she didn't want to be penalized for missing work.
She was arrested last Thursday and charged with falsely reporting a crime, as well as perjury.
[via New York Daily News and Orlando Sentinel]
